Hey All, I'm a first time Escalade owner. Having recently relocated to S. MS where "Cruisin-the-Coast" is a yearly, week long eye-candy-fest of hot rods, classics, and customs, I've decided to do more than look and drool. I just bought an 06 Caddie Escalade and plan to repair, replace and modify to bring it up to be comparable mechanically and in finish to a manufacturer's certified used model. Plus, I'm adding a few personal touches. I ordered a LQ9/LS3 heads crate engine that is rated at 452hp, which just arrived. The 4L65E tranny is in being rebuilt. I just ordered suspension from Belltech to do a 2/3 drop. The body is straight and the sport red metallic factory paint is in remarkably good shape, so for now I plan to do some wheeling, rubbing and a bit of touchup to bring it back to factory finish quality. I have new gray/red leather seat covers on order from Katzkin. Those are the things I've settled on so far.
I do have a couple of things I'd appreciate some input on from you all, if you don't mind.
1. Do any of you know if anyone makes a simple rear bumper that will fit Escalades? I'd like to replace the stock bumper with something simpler and tighter fitting. I found an aftermarket rolled rear pan for Tahoe and Yukon, but it won't fit the escalade because of its different trim cladding at the quarter panels. And, I prefer an actual bumper like the bumpers Chip Foose does.
2. I'm doing a 2/3 drop and would like suggestions for wheels and tires. My peference is a 20" Wheel with an overall diameter of around 33" and width of 10.5", but I have no idea if that size will work without rubbing. Anny suggestions?
3. I'd like a really nice factory-installed-looking infotainment system that doesn't require changing dash trim. Any suggestions?
4. This year at "Cruisn'-the-Coast a vendor had some really outrageous instrument clusters for GMs. They look like three screens (or perhaps 1 screen with three areas for dispaly. The gauges are active images and programmable to have different gauge styles and different colored lighting. He claimed they just plug in to the stock dash harness. But I didn't get the name of the company. Anyone recognize who I'm talking about?
5. Any other suggestions are welcome. What I'm trying for is comfort, style, reliability and performance, with a big emphasis of reliability and comfort as we intend to use the car as a daily driver.
Thanks for letting me talk about my car.
Here are some before photos.
I do have a couple of things I'd appreciate some input on from you all, if you don't mind.
1. Do any of you know if anyone makes a simple rear bumper that will fit Escalades? I'd like to replace the stock bumper with something simpler and tighter fitting. I found an aftermarket rolled rear pan for Tahoe and Yukon, but it won't fit the escalade because of its different trim cladding at the quarter panels. And, I prefer an actual bumper like the bumpers Chip Foose does.
2. I'm doing a 2/3 drop and would like suggestions for wheels and tires. My peference is a 20" Wheel with an overall diameter of around 33" and width of 10.5", but I have no idea if that size will work without rubbing. Anny suggestions?
3. I'd like a really nice factory-installed-looking infotainment system that doesn't require changing dash trim. Any suggestions?
4. This year at "Cruisn'-the-Coast a vendor had some really outrageous instrument clusters for GMs. They look like three screens (or perhaps 1 screen with three areas for dispaly. The gauges are active images and programmable to have different gauge styles and different colored lighting. He claimed they just plug in to the stock dash harness. But I didn't get the name of the company. Anyone recognize who I'm talking about?
5. Any other suggestions are welcome. What I'm trying for is comfort, style, reliability and performance, with a big emphasis of reliability and comfort as we intend to use the car as a daily driver.
Thanks for letting me talk about my car.
Here are some before photos.
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