Pavel's 2005 Escalade EXT build

[adventurenali92]

Great progress! I love the EXTs as well. I’ve always wanted one! I’d love to see what the outside looks like as well! The stereo headunit looks awesome! It looks clean and OEM! Great work man!

 

[iddqd]

Great progress! I love the EXTs as well. I’ve always wanted one! I’d love to see what the outside looks like as well! The stereo headunit looks awesome! It looks clean and OEM! Great work man!

Only minor mods outside so far, and you can see them all in my signature picture: 18" wheels & tires, headlights, mudflaps, flexy antenna.

 

[adventurenali92]

Only minor mods outside so far, and you can see them all in my signature picture: 18" wheels & tires, headlights, mudflaps, flexy antenna.

That’s my problem. Can’t see the sig pic til I turn my phone sideways and the screen rotated. Lol.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Audio

Head unit: Joying JY-UM135N2, later upgraded (manufacturer offered upgrade in a form of a new core board, I didn't have to replace the whole unit). Specs: Android 8.0 Oreo, 4GB RAM+32GB ROM, 128Gb SD card (bought separately for music and maps), Bluetooth, rear view camera. It a royal PITA to install a camera in the tailgate of EXT, since it's made of fiberglass and glued together with a double sided scotch tape. But I did it, and also when I was there, I installed a lock actuator, so now the tailgate closes with the remote like all other doors.

It runs Android, so basically the entire Google Play is available. I installed Waze, Torque Pro, Maps, Poweramp and a bunch of other useful apps. I also bought a Dash cam, so now I record everything. It looks neat and factory.

Amplifier: https://www.clarion.com/us/en/products-personal/marine/XC2510/index.html

All speakers are factory so far, I am waiting for them to die, so I would have a justification for a set of a new speakers.

A sub is factory as well.


View attachment 218086 View attachment 218087 View attachment 218088 View attachment 218089 View attachment 218091

Which cameras are you using with it?

 

[iddqd]

Which cameras are you using with it?

DVR: This Joying camera: https://www.joyingauto.com/joying-new-developed-usb-front-dvr-camera.html
But they have a newer version on their website and the price is the same.
Rearview camera: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018800TR2

 

[iddqd]

Rear view camera

I installed a rear view camera in the tailgate. That was a PITA!!!

Some engineer (if that's the right word) at GM decided to make tailgate out of fiberglass. To put the parts of the tailgate together they used double sided sticky tape. To add insult to injury, GM didn't put a lock actuator inside, so the tailgate can only be opened and closed with a key. And it's very heavy, but no torsion installed.

To be fare, in 2007 GM did their homework and the new Avalanche/Escalade EXT had a regular metal tailgate with a power lock, torsion bar and a rear view camera. But for 2002-2006 the owners have to do it themselves.

To take tailgate apart, you need to cut the above mentioned sticky tape. I used just a regular kitchen knife. All the rest is very easy.

So, I installed the camera, a tailgate lock actuator and a torsion bar.

Pix speak louder then words:

 

[adventurenali92]

Did you have to run a wire from the tailgate somewhere up in to the truck to get it connected to the headunit?! I’ve always been curious about that.

 

[iddqd]

Did you have to run a wire from the tailgate somewhere up in to the truck to get it connected to the headunit?! I’ve always been curious about that.

I took out a right bed panel (a major PITA!!!) and ran the wires their, then connected power lock wires to door lock wires, so it opens and closes with the other doors. And the camera cable runs all the way to the dashboard.

I didn't want to run wires on the outside, as it would be subjected to elements and I am not sure that a video cable is rated for that.

 

[iddqd]

Rear diff cover

https://www.yourcovers.com/diffcover_9330_10815.php

 

[adventurenali92]

I took out a right bed panel (a major PITA!!!) and ran the wires their, then connected power lock wires to door lock wires, so it opens and closes with the other doors. And the camera cable runs all the way to the dashboard.

I didn't want to run wires on the outside, as it would be subjected to elements and I am not sure that a video cable is rated for that.

Smart thought on the door locks! Yeah I would think the video cable would have to be covered. I have a back up cam installed with my headunit as well. But I had it installed because I don’t have the experience or skills for that. Lol. And have always been curious about how they worked the backup cam.

 

[iddqd]

Smart thought on the door locks! Yeah I would think the video cable would have to be covered. I have a back up cam installed with my headunit as well. But I had it installed because I don’t have the experience or skills for that. Lol. And have always been curious about how they worked the backup cam.

I think u've got a Suburban. Its so much easier to run the wires on SUV than on SUT. BUt it's usually done under the door frame trims, where floor panels meet door frames

 

[adventurenali92]

I think u've got a Suburban. Its so much easier to run the wires on SUV than on SUT. BUt it's usually done under the door frame trims, where floor panels meet door frames

Yukon XL but same thing. Lol. Just seems like a lot of work I guess. I would think it’d be easier to have some sort of receiver that runs off of a signal rather having to run that cable all the way forward. That’s a lot of cable. But what do I know about these things?! Lol

 

[ArcticYukon]

Rear view camera

I installed a rear view camera in the tailgate. That was a PITA!!!

Some engineer (if that's the right word) at GM decided to make tailgate out of fiberglass. To put the parts of the tailgate together they used double sided sticky tape. To add insult to injury, GM didn't put a lock actuator inside, so the tailgate can only be opened and closed with a key. And it's very heavy, but no torsion installed.

To be fare, in 2007 GM did their homework and the new Avalanche/Escalade EXT had a regular metal tailgate with a power lock, torsion bar and a rear view camera. But for 2002-2006 the owners have to do it themselves.

To take tailgate apart, you need to cut the above mentioned sticky tape. I used just a regular kitchen knife. All the rest is very easy.

So, I installed the camera, a tailgate lock actuator and a torsion bar.

Pix speak louder then words:
View attachment 218211 View attachment 218212 View attachment 218213 View attachment 218214 View attachment 218215

Nice work, man!

 

[iddqd]

Yukon XL but same thing. Lol. Just seems like a lot of work I guess. I would think it’d be easier to have some sort of receiver that runs off of a signal rather having to run that cable all the way forward. That’s a lot of cable. But what do I know about these things?! Lol

There are actually wireless camera, but I didn't want to add complexity where it's not needed. Plus, they all are made in some Chinese basement, which doesn't contribute towards reliability either, The fewer points of failure, the better!

 

[adventurenali92]

There are actually wireless camera, but I didn't want to add complexity where it's not needed. Plus, they all are made in some Chinese basement, which doesn't contribute towards reliability either, The fewer points of failure, the better!

Ah ok that makes sense

 

[05Single]

Nice work . Great to see you do a full job and not half ass it .

Side not looks like your apartment has a nice view. 7th floor?

 

[iddqd]

Side not looks like your apartment has a nice view. 7th floor?

View attachment 218876

Ground floor actually, but it's on the top of the hill, near Twin Peaks. But I moved out already. The apartment was very nice, but for 2 people and a German Shepherd Dog 1BR is waaay to small. Now I live in a 3 story townhouse in South San Francisco with my own garage, 2BR, 2.5BATH, but rent is actually the same. Welcome to San Francisco


Ah, and I cut my commute time in half

 

[05Single]

Ground floor actually, but it's on the top of the hill, near Twin Peaks. But I moved out already. The apartment was very nice, but for 2 people and a German Shepherd Dog 1BR is waaay to small. Now I live in a 3 story townhouse in South San Francisco with my own garage, 2BR, 2.5BATH, but rent is actually the same. Welcome to San Francisco


Ah, and I cut my commute time in half

Awesome upgrade on the home , I thought San Fran was expensive

 

[Dantheman1540]

Man that thing is super clean I love those wheels what are they off of exactly?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Man that thing is super clean I love those wheels what are they off of exactly?

They look like Silverado rims.