Custom ESXi install with custom default password

So I have customer that we are building systems for and we are now working on an "appliance" that has 51 different nodes each using ESXi.

As it is now, we have to install ESXi, login, change the password rules file to accommodate the custom password as it does not adhere to the default password rules (much more complex), then reboot and log back in and change the password. This is a very time consuming process due to boot times and hands on access to the rack. Each rack gets a different password.

1. Is there a way to automate this process or more likely, is there a way to generate a custom install of ESXi on the fly, using the generated password? (probably not likely)
2. Instead of creating a custom install with the password, can I create a custom ESXi install that already has the password rules file updated for the complexity of the password required? At least this would save some time.

I would prefer option 1 to remove human error out of the process, but option 2 would work, however it would require extra QA steps to make sure passwords were entered correctly.

Since we are going to be manufacturing several of these "appliances" a week we would prefer not to spend a full day modifying the rules file and entering a password.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the help!