Dave's 2006 Escalade AWD Build Thread

[Onebadsss]

Yes, with 305 40 22. I like the new wheels. You will like the esky in the snow.

Nice! And I hope so, I was actually pretty underwhelmed with how my 2005 Silverado SS AWD handled in the snow considering it's supposed to have the "superior" AWD transfer case in the NVG-149 since it's all mechanical unlike our Borg Warner units in the Esky's. Could just have been because I was running all season tires? Idk, but the definitive answer will come this winter when I slap proper snow tires on this beast and take her for a slalom in the snow...

 

[95escahoe]

How do you like the quality of the SuperBrightLEDs compared to your Philips ones? I really like the Sylvania ZEVOs because of the plastic dome housing that makes them more closely resemble standard halogens. Plus Sylvania boasts a lifetime warranty on the ZEVO bulbs!



Dude those look awesome! Do you have a link?

The superbight LED's are good for the inside not as protected like the Phillips or yours which is why I didn't use them for the plate lights, and I'll shoot you a link for the foglight LED's



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[95escahoe]

Nice! And I hope so, I was actually pretty underwhelmed with how my 2005 Silverado SS AWD handled in the snow considering it's supposed to have the "superior" AWD transfer case in the NVG-149 since it's all mechanical unlike our Borg Warner units in the Esky's. Could just have been because I was running all season tires? Idk, but the definitive answer will come this winter when I slap proper snow tires on this beast and take her for a slalom in the snow...

I run 20" Denali rims on mine with the factory all seasons and it's a tank in the snow those big storms we had the end of the winter made it through a foot plus with no problems


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[adventurenali92]

I wish I had the ventilated seats of the Platinum! Although I'm not crazy about the weird "custom" seat controls GM made for them that are mounted on the center console. I do want to do the Platinum cupholder mod though and I'm currently keeping my eye out for a good condition one on eBay...

Oh I know driving through la on Saturday I was wishing I had ventilated seats too haha. I kinda like the controls there in the platinum but not sure what the thought process was behind putting it there. Yeah I kinda like the heated/cooled cupholder too. I wanna out a setup in my denali from a platinum. Everyone says it isn't a big deal but I'm probably gonna do it anyways haha.

 

[Fosscore]

Thanks @Fosscore!! Your 2006 Tahoe build thread is the gold standard I'm trying to emulate! But I also have to give proper credit due to @tgui since his 2002 Yukon build thread is where I draw my inspiration for humor and he and I also share a similar level of mechanical experience for anything beyond oil changes and brake jobs, lol!

Many thx man. I am lucky that a family friend owns a 2nd generation auto/tire shop and has his own stock 05 Tahoe LT, so anything beyond by skill set, he gets to see it and gives me the truth.

 

[adventurenali92]

Those factory 20s are gonna look good on your esky! There's on where in big bear where i live with that wheel setup and it looks excellent!

 

[95escahoe]

Oh I know driving through la on Saturday I was wishing I had ventilated seats too haha. I kinda like the controls there in the platinum but not sure what the thought process was behind putting it there. Yeah I kinda like the heated/cooled cupholder too. I wanna out a setup in my denali from a platinum. Everyone says it isn't a big deal but I'm probably gonna do it anyways haha.

The platinum cup holder is pretty cool but it's not really worth adding imo it barley keeps anything cold or warm, and your supposed to use some special cups that GM sold, the NNBS Esky and up ones work mint drove one at a car show a few years back it kept everything ice cold and very warm


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[95escahoe]

Thanks brother! Your's is clean as well, I have a love/hate relationship with black trucks (I've owned two black Silverado SS trucks and now have a black Equinox company vehicle) and yeah tan isn't normally my first color choice since it shows dirt so easily but since GM didn't start offering black interiors until the NNBS model line, tan it is!

No problem I love black cars & trucks look mint all cleaned up, kinda a ****** idea on GM's part if you ask me


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[05Single]

Can't stop staring at that white. It just draws you in.
Good call on the wheels, I was gonna ask if you were gonna grab some oem 20s or 22s.
So the next question is .....2/4 drop?

 

[W8TVI]

I use the Phillips ones for my plate lights rest of the LED's I got from superbrightleds.com

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I also used the Phillips LEDs for my tag lights, but I used superbrightleds for the special LEDs I needed (like the non-polarized side markers), but because my truck is a 2000 I was able to get away with cheap LEDs from Amazon for ones like the map lights.

How do you like the quality of the SuperBrightLEDs compared to your Philips ones? I really like the Sylvania ZEVOs because of the plastic dome housing that makes them more closely resemble standard halogens. Plus Sylvania boasts a lifetime warranty on the ZEVO bulbs!



Dude those look awesome! Do you have a link?

I can add my 2 cents on this, I like the qualty of the SuperBrightLEDs just fine, but the problem with the tag lights is a lack of clearance.
The Sylvania was the only one that I could find that would fit in the same space as the 194 bulbs and still be at least as bright as the stock bulb.
Also, I was able to find them on Amazon for about $5 each.

 

[Onebadsss]

The superbight LED's are good for the inside not as protected like the Phillips or yours which is why I didn't use them for the plate lights, and I'll shoot you a link for the foglight LED's


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Thanks for the info and the link!

 

[Onebadsss]

Can't stop staring at that white. It just draws you in.
Good call on the wheels, I was gonna ask if you were gonna grab some oem 20s or 22s.
So the next question is .....2/4 drop?

The jury is still out on whether or not I'm gonna drop her as I'm concerned about compromising ride quality since this is a family hauler and not just weekend scene queen. Anyone have experience with dropping an AWD NBS Esky that can chime in?

 

[Onebadsss]

Taking inventory of what the OEM 20's wheel set I scored came with: chewed up lugs, stripped locks and missing a couple of the chrome lug caps soooooo I enlisted the help of Amazon and eBay to remedy those issues for reasonable cost:

 

[Onebadsss]

I know the suspense is killing y'all so here are the wheels mounted with brand new Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus 275/55 R20 tires:

Thank's to the guys @ BJ's Wholesale Club for doing a great job!

 

[95escahoe]

The jury is still out on whether or not I'm gonna drop her as I'm concerned about compromising ride quality since this is a family hauler and not just weekend scene queen. Anyone have experience with dropping an AWD NBS Esky that can chime in?

I'm gonna lower mine this summer a slight drop with working autoride will ride pretty smooth aslong as you do new spindles up front, Tony aka NorcalSS he will hook you up on a kit


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[chevync]

I keep putting off dropping the rear 2 inches. Next is powder coating my wheels to match my paint. Doing the lip, inside of the spokes and leaving the outside spokes and center caps chrome. Should look good. I hope.lol

 

[Onebadsss]

I'm gonna lower mine this summer a slight drop with working autoride will ride pretty smooth aslong as you do new spindles up front, Tony aka NorcalSS he will hook you up on a kit


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I definitely want to overhaul the suspension at some point: new oem autoride shocks, hellwig sway bar kit, possibly new compressor for the air ride (if needed), moog suspension/steering up front, etc. She rides pretty smooth now and there are other areas that I need to address first like rebuilding the front diff, brakes and maintenance items...

Tony is a great guy, he hooked me up with a set of Belltech Street Performance shocks for my SS!

 

[Onebadsss]

Since I know @95escahoe has been asking: during one of my many FB marketplace troll patrols I came across a clean set of 2002 Esky 3-piece engine covers so I contacted the seller and struck a deal. Little did I know that seller would turn out to be @95escahoe, lol! And this went down before we connected here on TYF too, what are the odds?

These engine covers definitely look great on the truck and as a bonus I flipped the original Vortec MAX engine cover set that came stock on her for the same price I paid for these so it was a nice "freebie" cosmetic upgrade!

 

[Onebadsss]

So we had some really nice weather (for once) and the wifey was requesting I go through the interior and clean it out since our 3yo and 1yo daughters are the "masters of disaster" and love to make messes everywhere they go. So I pulled everything out of it, car seats, 3rd row, etc and gave her a good vacuum and interior wipe down with some Simple Green Automotive (which is actually blue, lol) and I'm still amazed by the cleanliness of the interior:

 

[Onebadsss]

One thing I noticed when I removed the 3rd row seats is that this (purpose unknown) bracket on the left side seat bracket is broken:

Any NBS gurus out there that know what this part's purpose is or what the OEM replacement part numbers are??