Dave's 2006 Escalade AWD Build Thread

[95escahoe]

The backup camera brought it's own unique challenges as I once again wanted a clean mounting location that would be fairly hidden away and not require me to drill any holes in the Esky. So after considering options and looking at how I was going to have to run the cable back to the front to connect to the Nav unit, I opted to mount it on the trailer hitch:

After pulling up the rear step pad in the cargo bay I found a perfect hole to run the cable up through:

I also removed the factory 6-disc CD changer and wanted an OEM look solution for the hole left behind. So I purchased this little gem off eBay:

Using a dremel tool I cut out the lower pocket and shaped the flange to fit (had a bunch of pics of this process but ofcourse my iPhone f*cked up AGAIN and corrupted the files!):

I rigged up this nonsense in order to glue the pocket to the backside of the factory upper console bracket:

I drilled a hole at the top very back of the pocket to run the Nav unit's USB cables thru for easy access to connect phones:

I'm very happy with the final result as it looks clean and the wife is excited to have the ability to play her iTunes and Pandora in the truck as well as have a place to put her phone

Love this setup I need to do some kind of double din head unit


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[Onebadsss]

So when the family and I arrived home last Sunday night I was excited to find these waiting at my door!:

I ordered everything from Richmond Auto Upholstery and am very happy with the quality!

 

[Onebadsss]

Love this setup I need to do some kind of double din head unit


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Do it man! I'm happy to help with the install as I've installed Double DIN head units in every NBS truck I've owned so I can take the ash apart in my sleep now, lol!

 

[95escahoe]

Do it man! I'm happy to help with the install as I've installed Double DIN head units in every NBS truck I've owned so I can take the ash apart in my sleep now, lol!

I'm gonna do a non navigation head unit, I know there is some bracket in the dash you need to modify to make deeper ones fit, is that the reason for pulling the top of the dash?


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[Onebadsss]

So this is what the factory original driver's seat looked like. It was worn out, cracked and peeling and the seat foam was tired (the outer bolster was completely flattened out and the whole seat felt like an old lazyboy recliner, lol):

I completely removed the lower seat cushion (this was a PITA):

The underside of the factory leather says it all:

The outer bolster was toast. Foam underlayment gone, the leather itself was starting to wear thin too:

The foam was no better, definitely supported my decision to replace it all:

Just for peace of mind I also installed a new OEM heating element because I only want to do this job ONCE:

The new leather cover has nice foam underlayment all around. Very well constructed:

 

[95escahoe]

So this is what the factory original driver's seat looked like. It was worn out, cracked and peeling and the seat foam was tired (the outer bolster was completely flattened out and the whole seat felt like an old lazyboy recliner, lol):

I completely removed the lower seat cushion (this was a PITA):

The underside of the factory leather says it all:

The outer bolster was toast. Foam underlayment gone, the leather itself was starting to wear thin too:

The foam was no better, definitely supported my decision to replace it all:

Just for peace of mind I also installed a new OEM heating element because I only want to do this job ONCE:

The new leather cover has nice foam underlayment all around. Very well constructed:

You got a part number on that heater element?


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[Onebadsss]

I'm gonna do a non navigation head unit, I know there is some bracket in the dash you need to modify to make deeper ones fit, is that the reason for pulling the top of the dash?


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There is a center bar to the radio bucket you might have to cut depending on how deep the unit sits, but my reasoning for pulled the dash cover is to allow a much easier time fishing all the excess wiring back into the wide open spaces back there. Plus it allowed me to mount the GPS antenna in the factory location

 

[Onebadsss]

You got a part number on that heater element?


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Yes sir! 88940288. I ordered mine from a GM dealer in Texas that I found on eBay, the absolute cheapest price I could find for the part with free priority mail shipping:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-New-Dri...ash=item53f8d41e5d:g:SJIAAOSwyjBW5yqW&vxp=mtr

 

[Onebadsss]

So I'm not gonna lie: installing the new leather seat cover was a royal PITFA!! I'm not sure if it was an issue with the fitment or the fact that I installed it over brand new seat foam (probably the issue) but no matter how hard I tried I could not get it to sit perfectly aligned over the velcro strips in that "half moon" shape AND get both ends clipped in place. Sooooo I'm gonna let it break in for a few months and then try to realign it:

I will say this though: the seat feels AMAZING with new foam! Night and day difference and I highly recommend to anyone who's going to hassle with replacing the leather to do the seat foam at the same time, totally worth the extra $125! And the way new leather on the seat and the center console transformed the look and feel of sitting at the helm of this beast put a huge smile on both mine and my wife's face!

 

[Onebadsss]

I forgot to mention that I picked up this handy little socket on Amazon for about $9 that made the seat base removal much easier and safer (no risk of stripping the nuts!):

 

[95escahoe]

While your talking about the center console lid is the factory one the same material as the seats? I'll have to start using leather cleaner on it then if it is


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[Onebadsss]

While your talking about the center console lid is the factory one the same material as the seats? I'll have to start using leather cleaner on it then if it is


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Yes, it is the exact same leather as the seats so I highly recommend regular cleaning and conditioning

 

[adventurenali92]

Truck is looking better and better! That nav unit is awesome! I want to put a front facing camera like that into mine. Funny you mention where you got your seat stuff, my replacement foam and heare elements both came from the same GM dealership in Texas via their ebay store. Prices were way better than anyone else I found! I think I actually ordered my leather top cover from them too. I'm very happy with it! Keep up the good work man!

 

[Rocket Man]

Well now didn't know I was missing out on the party! Good looking Esky, glad to hear the mod but has hit again. Following along.

 

[Onebadsss]

Truck is looking better and better! That nav unit is awesome! I want to put a front facing camera like that into mine. Funny you mention where you got your seat stuff, my replacement foam and heare elements both came from the same GM dealership in Texas via their ebay store. Prices were way better than anyone else I found! I think I actually ordered my leather top cover from them too. I'm very happy with it! Keep up the good work man!

Thanks man! I have several more small projects for the Esky in the works that I'll be sure to post up as soon as I complete each one! That's funny about the TX dealership, I am gonna try to go to them first in the further for any more OEM parts needs since their pricing is so competitive!

 

[Onebadsss]

Well now didn't know I was missing out on the party! Good looking Esky, glad to hear the mod but has hit again. Following along.

Thanks man! I plan to own this Caddy for a looooong time and have big plans for it so this build will be ongoing!

 

[Onebadsss]

No huge updates yet BUT I did finally get around to replacing the column shifter with a new OEM one because the original had lost the chrome trim ring at the end which was bugging the shit outta me:

So much better with the new one in! Bit of a ***** to change it out but well worth the hassle:

Here is the P/N if anyone wants it to upgrade their's. OEM part is pricey but Dorman doesn't make a cheaper alternative for the Escalade style shifter:

 

[adventurenali92]

Nice work! I swapped my denali's plastic handle out for an esky one and it you're right, it was a ***** to get out lol. And I'm gonna do it all over again soon when I switch to an nnbs esky handle. Anywas, your new handle looks way lighter colored then any I've ever seen. Every nbs esky I've seen, and the ones I look into buying online, were that dark almost brown colored leather handle. That leather looks to be a perfect match to your shale interior! Nice!

 

[Onebadsss]

Nice work! I swapped my denali's plastic handle out for an esky one and it you're right, it was a ***** to get out lol. And I'm gonna do it all over again soon when I switch to an nnbs esky handle. Anywas, your new handle looks way lighter colored then any I've ever seen. Every nbs esky I've seen, and the ones I look into buying online, were that dark almost brown colored leather handle. That leather looks to be a perfect match to your shale interior! Nice!

Thanks man! Yeah I had to get my portable butane fuel soldering iron with the exposed flame heating element tip to heat up the T27 Torx screw that holds it in place, since it's got blue threadlocker on it, in order to get it loose!

And yes the shifter comes in two shades as far as the leather wrap is concerned and I did a TON of research to find the P/N for the right one that I needed so I figured I'd post it up to make it easier for the next guy!

 

[adventurenali92]

Thanks man! Yeah I had to get my portable butane fuel soldering iron with the exposed flame heating element tip to heat up the T27 Torx screw that holds it in place, since it's got blue threadlocker on it, in order to get it loose!

And yes the shifter comes in two shades as far as the leather wrap is concerned and I did a TON of research to find the P/N for the right one that I needed so I figured I'd post it up to make it easier for the next guy!

Yeah when my mechanic buddy swapped in mine I was pissed that he out new threadlock in! Gonna suck to get it out. Lol. Lots of heat.... sharing the knowledge we learn is awesome!haha.