Picking my new ( to me ) truck up tomorrow, need pointers

[bstrang6]

I am grabbing an 03 esky tomorrow, which already has a single din flip out head unit installed ( hopefully it was done correctly ) and two monitors in the head rests. during the test drive I did hear sounds coming through the radio similar to Windows XP starting up, which I thought was weird. How ever I will be installing the following

Kenwood DDX419 Double DIN HU
(2) Sundown Audio SA-15's
(1) Hifonics BRZ1700 Monobock amp

I would like to tie into the Alpine head rest monitors if possible, I think that the equipment is probably a few years old, and there are two 'brain' units under the front seats, I presume for the monitors. Anyone have any knowledge on these units? Anything I should know? will they only work with Alpine headunits?

I will be doing the Big3 and running KCA 0 Gauge all the way to the back for the amp, is there a factory grommet that will work in the fire wall? Any tricks I should know for disassembling the interior, mainly the dash?

I bought a dash kit for the double din install, will I have to modify anything to make it fit?

And lastly I want to do something I've never done with a previous car, and run a 4 channel amp to some good components, possibly in all 4 doors, maybe just the front doors. So will the stock alternator hold up with the big three, and 0 gauge, to my 1700 watt sub amp, and another 4 channel, using the same 0 gauge into a distribution block?

The only other question I have is regarding the sub box. I have them in a undersized slot ported box right now, as I simply didn't have enough trunk space in my last cadillac for them. This escalade is the short body, and I am going to be losing my third row, but wouldnt mind a small amount of cargo area, but if I have to give it all up thats fine. Im looking to shoot for 7-8 cubes, anyone have pictures of a similarly sized box in the back end of their truck? How should I arrange the subs? This is my first SUV, but it seems like most go upwards firing, and backwards port. I have a very large Labrador, who rides with me all the time, and the idea of her jumping up on my sub box and being able to put her paw right though a ~450 dollar speaker scares me, is there any creative ideas you have towards protecting the speakers, without hindering sound. I'm looking to blow the doors off this truck lol.

Thanks in advance!

 

[magicbus]

Your headrest monitors should be universal regardless of brand. If the installer was worth their salt, they ran A/V cables up to the existing in-dash screen. The escalade should have the high output factory alternator but I believe they are 140 amp.

Most of the 2-din install kits I've worked with fit decent into the dash without modification. There are some things you can do to make them fit better because sometimes there is small imperfections that are hardly noticeable. If I remember correctly one side sits about 1/8" off of the other on some, simply drilling new screw holes in the tabs is an easy fix. Just test fit and see what needs changing if anything. If using a screen with a motorized face you sometimes have to file the corners on the dash kit in order for the face to move freely.