Build is Finished!

[m1949]

The last bit of dialing in the suspension is done. Now I plan to enjoy this '06 Resto-build as a daily driver and maybe take it to a couple of local car shows. Here is a list of most of the work done:
Resto-Build Details
2006 Cadillac Escalade Base
**Exterior **
-Sport Red Metallic paint correction and ceramic coated
-Mono color accents to grill, running boards and rear bumper
-Cadillac “V” (tribute) badges
-New headlights, fog lights
-Undercarriage/frame detailed and covered with rust inhibitor paint
-Trailer hitch delete
**Suspension**
-Adaptive air ride delete
-Belltech lowering kit with 2” drop spindles, 2” shock extenders, coil springs
-Free travel modification, new bumpstops and front jounce
-New ball joints, sway bar links & bushings, new tie rod ends
-New idler, Pitman arms
-Bilstein shocks/struts
**Brakes, Wheels, Tires**
-2007-2013 Escalade (Gen 3) brake upgrade
-Powerstop slotted rotors
-New power brake booster and master cylinder
-2018 Escalade 20” Wheels
-275/55/20 Michelin Defender tires
**Engine and Engine Accessories**
-LS364/450 GM Performance Engine GM PN:19370163
(LQ9 block with LS3 rectangle port aluminum heads,
LS6 hydraulic roller cam, internal balance, rated at
452HP and 441 lb-ft torque)
-2009-2020 GM manifold PN 12597600
-93mm 4 bolt throttle body
-Fuel rail PN 1262163 and 50lb/hr fuel injectors PN 12609749
-New spark plugs, wires, coils
-New fuel pump
-New Starter, Alternator, A/C compressor and components kit
-New Radiator, electric fan, hoses
-New Battery, drive belt
-New cam, crank, O2 sensors
-Custom engine cover
-Speed Engineering headers
-Custom dual exhausts with Magnaflow muffler and resonators
-Custom tune
**Transmission**
-Stage 2 built transmission, Corvette servo, rated for 500hp
-Tru Cool 40 transmission cooler, hoses
**Interior**
-Custom instrument cluster with 140mph/7000rpm
-Deep Red Premium Leather seat kit by Katzkin
-Custom deep red leather arm rests, door trim inserts, center console lid
-Deep Red color accents to dash cover, fascia and center console
-Custom Pewter floor mats with Escalade logo
-Pioneer AVIC8400NEX, 7” in-dash, Navigation AV receiver
-CD changer replaced with custom dual phone charger cubby

 

[iamdub]

The last bit of dialing in the suspension is done. Now I plan to enjoy this '06 Resto-build as a daily driver and maybe take it to a couple of local car shows. Here is a list of most of the work done:
Resto-Build Details
2006 Cadillac Escalade Base
**Exterior **
-Sport Red Metallic paint correction and ceramic coated
-Mono color accents to grill, running boards and rear bumper
-Cadillac “V” (tribute) badges
-New headlights, fog lights
-Trailer hitch delete
**Suspension**
-Adaptive air ride delete
-Belltech lowering kit with 2” drop spindles, 2” shock extenders, coil springs
-Free travel modification, new bumpstops and front jounce
-New ball joints, sway bar links & bushings, new tie rod ends
-New idler, Pitman arms
-Bilstein shocks/struts
**Brakes, Wheels, Tires**
-2007-2013 Escalade (Gen 3) brake upgrade
-Powerstop slotted rotors
-New power brake booster and master cylinder
-2018 Escalade 20” Wheels
-275/55/20 Michelin Defender tires
**Engine and Engine Accessories**
-LS364/450 GM Performance Engine GM PN:19370163
(LQ9 block with LS3 rectangle port aluminum heads,
LS6 hydraulic roller cam, internal balance, rated at
452HP and 441 lb-ft torque)
-2009-2020 GM manifold PN 12597600
-93mm 4 bolt throttle body
-Fuel rail PN 1262163 and 50lb/hr fuel injectors PN 12609749
-New spark plugs, wires, coils
-New fuel pump
-New Starter, Alternator, A/C compressor and components kit
-New Radiator, electric fan, hoses
-New Battery, drive belt
-New cam, crank, O2 sensors
-Custom engine cover
-Speed Engineering headers
-Custom dual exhausts with Magnaflow muffler and resonators
-Custom tune
**Transmission**
-Stage 2 built transmission, Corvette servo, rated for 500hp
-Tru Cool 40 transmission cooler, hoses
**Interior**
-Custom instrument cluster with 140mph/7000rpm
-Deep Red Premium Leather seat kit by Katzkin
-Custom deep red leather arm rests, door trim inserts, center console lid
-Deep Red color accents to dash cover, fascia and center console
-Custom Pewter floor mats with Escalade logo
-Pioneer AVIC8400NEX, 7” in-dash, Navigation AV receiver
-CD changer replaced with custom dual phone charger cubby

Congrats on finishing it!

I see you went with the Bilstein shocks. Which ones did you get and what's your assessment of them coupled with the Belltech coils?

 

[m1949]

Congrats on finishing it!

I see you went with the Bilstein shocks. Which ones did you get and what's your assessment of them coupled with the Belltech coils?

Went with Bilstein 4600. I like them better than Belltech SP shocks. It's probably a matter of personal preference, but the Belltechs were too stiff for my liking. The Bilsteins perform more like how I remember the OE shocks were on my '05 Suburban back in the day. I tried a set of Monroes. They are ok for bumpy roads, but are too mushy when cornering. The Bilsteins are tight in the corners, and IMO cushion the road better than Belltech SPs.But knowing what I do now, If I had it to do over I'd keep the adaptive airride.

 

[iamdub]

Went with Bilstein 4600. I like them better than Belltech SP shocks. It's probably a matter of personal preference, but the Belltechs were too stiff for my liking. The Bilsteins perform more like how I remember the OE shocks were on my '05 Suburban back in the day. I tried a set of Monroes. They are ok for bumpy roads, but are too mushy when cornering. The Bilsteins are tight in the corners, and IMO cushion the road better than Belltech SPs.But knowing what I do now, If I had it to do over I'd keep the adaptive airride.

Good to know cuz the Bilstein 4600 struts and shocks are what I'm considering.

 

[Onlyone]

Badass. Great job.

 

[Matthew Jeschke]

That is sweet... I built up an LQ9 and 4L60E in my setup. Pulls hard but doesn't really accelerate like I thought it would. Will go up about any road though with ease... curious how yours pulls. Have you dyno tested?

 

[Romeh]

Putting the ls364 in my 02 Escalade ext, will it run so I can drive it to the tuner?

 

[Smooth]

The last bit of dialing in the suspension is done. Now I plan to enjoy this '06 Resto-build as a daily driver and maybe take it to a couple of local car shows. Here is a list of most of the work done:
Resto-Build Details
2006 Cadillac Escalade Base
**Exterior **
-Sport Red Metallic paint correction and ceramic coated
-Mono color accents to grill, running boards and rear bumper
-Cadillac “V” (tribute) badges
-New headlights, fog lights
-Undercarriage/frame detailed and covered with rust inhibitor paint
-Trailer hitch delete
**Suspension**
-Adaptive air ride delete
-Belltech lowering kit with 2” drop spindles, 2” shock extenders, coil springs
-Free travel modification, new bumpstops and front jounce
-New ball joints, sway bar links & bushings, new tie rod ends
-New idler, Pitman arms
-Bilstein shocks/struts
**Brakes, Wheels, Tires**
-2007-2013 Escalade (Gen 3) brake upgrade
-Powerstop slotted rotors
-New power brake booster and master cylinder
-2018 Escalade 20” Wheels
-275/55/20 Michelin Defender tires
**Engine and Engine Accessories**
-LS364/450 GM Performance Engine GM PN:19370163
(LQ9 block with LS3 rectangle port aluminum heads,
LS6 hydraulic roller cam, internal balance, rated at
452HP and 441 lb-ft torque)
-2009-2020 GM manifold PN 12597600
-93mm 4 bolt throttle body
-Fuel rail PN 1262163 and 50lb/hr fuel injectors PN 12609749
-New spark plugs, wires, coils
-New fuel pump
-New Starter, Alternator, A/C compressor and components kit
-New Radiator, electric fan, hoses
-New Battery, drive belt
-New cam, crank, O2 sensors
-Custom engine cover
-Speed Engineering headers
-Custom dual exhausts with Magnaflow muffler and resonators
-Custom tune
**Transmission**
-Stage 2 built transmission, Corvette servo, rated for 500hp
-Tru Cool 40 transmission cooler, hoses
**Interior**
-Custom instrument cluster with 140mph/7000rpm
-Deep Red Premium Leather seat kit by Katzkin
-Custom deep red leather arm rests, door trim inserts, center console lid
-Deep Red color accents to dash cover, fascia and center console
-Custom Pewter floor mats with Escalade logo
-Pioneer AVIC8400NEX, 7” in-dash, Navigation AV receiver
-CD changer replaced with custom dual phone charger cubby

Looks AMAZING!!

 

[adventurenali92]

Really nice build! This is the color esky that made me always want an esky. I just love this paint color on them! My Grammy bought me a welly brand 1/24 2002 Escalade in that color which came out not longer after the GMT800s starting getting popular, which was when I was about 10 or 11 years old. Been in love them ever since haha.

 

[tooleyondeck]

absolutely gorgeous! I aspire to get my Denali restored to this caliber.

 

[m1949]

Congrats on finishing it!

I see you went with the Bilstein shocks. Which ones did you get and what's your assessment of them coupled with the Belltech coils?

After two unsatisfying tries with Belltech SP and Monroes shock/struts I went with Bilstein 4600s. They aren't as stiff as the Belltech SP shocks I first installed; which are great for eliminating body roll if you don't mind being jarred going over bad roads. The Bilsteins produce much less body roll than the Monroes. Ride quality is good, but not as smooth as auto airride. If I had it to do over, based on what I've since learned, I'd keep air ride suspension and use longer extension rods to lower the rear.

 

[m1949]

absolutely gorgeous! I aspire to get my Denali restored to this caliber.

Thank you. Its been a labor of love!

 

[m1949]

Putting the ls364 in my 02 Escalade ext, will it run so I can drive it to the tuner?

It should. My engine installer drove mine about 15 miles to get it to the tuner. He said the fuel tables were off so he drove "gingerly" with slow acceleration and never going over 50mph.

 

[m1949]

That is sweet... I built up an LQ9 and 4L60E in my setup. Pulls hard but doesn't really accelerate like I thought it would. Will go up about any road though with ease... curious how yours pulls. Have you dyno tested?

The engine is spec'd by GM Performance at 452hp and 441 lbf-ft torque. These are flywheel specs. Below are dyno graphs which compare this engine to a stock LQ9 and another of rear wheel numbers from the dyno run of my engine. Based on these numbers, the tuner used a formula for drivetrain loss and enviornmental compesantion to estimate factored flywheel numbers for my engine at 455hp and 447 lbf-ft torque.

You might consider swapping out your stock LQ9 intake manifold, fuel rails, injectors for the TBSS setup with its larger throttle body. This should add a little pep.

 

[m1949]

Still tweaking the little things. Here is a photo of the air intake cover I made.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Still tweaking the little things. Here is a photo of the air intake cover I made.

Looks good. Fiberglass?

 

[Aquamania001]

Man that is awesome!!! I want to do a rebuild on my Tahoe. Just body work and paint for now.

 

[m1949]

Looks good. Fiberglass?

yes. It's fiberglass

 

[jeremiahm]

Interior is on point! I need some red...

 

[m1949]

That is sweet... I built up an LQ9 and 4L60E in my setup. Pulls hard but doesn't really accelerate like I thought it would. Will go up about any road though with ease... curious how yours pulls. Have you dyno tested?

Here is a dyno comparing stock LQ9 with the LS364/450. HP and torque is improved across the curve.