2017 Escalade ESV AFM delete project

[trailblazer]

Just picked up a ‘17 Esky ESV lux with a bent #4 pushrod for a VERY good price. Noise isn’t terrible and was able to drive it up and down a car hauler. I’m DIY and just did this job on my ‘08 Sierra (as preventative maintenance). Got lucky with finding a new Comp Cam XFI for $100 from FBM for the Sierra but it seems the L86 cams aren’t cheap - even for stock. Has anyone here actually done an AFM Delete with the L86 and which cam did you use? I have about $950 worth of parts in my RockAuto cart (also have new belts, pulleys, filters, etc) and I’m ready to pull the trigger on Michigan Motorsports LS7 lift kit with trays and new pushrods for $230ish on Amazon. Just need to commit to a cam and possibly new springs if I go with a stage 1. I did the beehives with my Sierra and I do plan on replacing all of the valve seals while I have the heads off - are all new springs a good idea even if I do go with a stock performance non-AFM cam? Scoggin-Dickey have their stock L86 non-AFM cam for ~$310.

 

[pronstar]

I’m an L83 but same deal, I used a TSP OEM-profile delete cam, no tuning required.

$300-ish direct from TSP:

https://www.texas-speed.com/brand/texas-speed-performance/p-tsp-316804-tsp-oem-style-non-dod-l86-camshaft/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16542528479&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxJfN76hvAXfaG1hNOiMdj3vmi46NvmhCOqVGDRcnCofNscvBq_uG9IaAsyAEALw_wcB

 

[trailblazer]

I just looked them up and wow $33 shipping! Right now I'm looking at the Scoggin Dickey SDR29512 "stock" AFM delete cam. I see that Melling makes these; I wouldn't doubt that these (Texas, Michigan Motorsports, and SDParts) are all Mellings. I'm apprehensive about buying a "kit" as they are missing some key items such as the front cover gasket, intake gaskets, etc. There fails to be a complete kit out there. I'm blown away with the Gen V vs Gen IV oil pump design. Did you change out your pump? Could it be done without dropping the pan like on the Gen IV's?

 

[trailblazer]

Went with the Scoggin-Dickey stock-spec cam for $309 shipped, Michigan Motorsports Delphi LS7 lifters trays and pushrods for $234 on Amazon, and RockAuto FTW. Tried to get as many OE parts I could find. Glad to see that there are many Genuine GM (versus ACDelco aftermarket) still available:

	Part Number	Part Type	Price EA	Core EA	Quantity	Total
No Vehicle Specified
DORMAN​	090091 (090-091.1)	Oil Drain Plug	$ 3.95​	$ 0.00​	2​	$ 7.90​
PERMATEX​	22071	Gasket Maker	$ 2.75​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 2.75​
PERMATEX​	25228	Gasket Maker	$ 8.11​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 8.11​
2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE 6.2L V8
ACDELCO​	41168 (41-168)	Spark Plug	$ 6.90​	$ 0.00​	8​	$ 55.20​
DAYCO​	89677	Belt Tensioner Wholesaler Closeout -- 30 Day Warranty	$ 25.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 25.79​
FEL-PRO​	61089	Pipe Flange Gasket / Seal	$ 5.17​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 5.17​
FEL-PRO​	61074	Pipe Flange Gasket / Seal	$ 4.24​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 4.24​
GATES​	K060714	Belt	$ 19.82​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 19.82​
GATES​	K040337SF	Belt	$ 22.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 22.79​
GATES​	K030293SF	Belt	$ 32.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 32.79​
GATES​	42200BH	Water Pump	$ 172.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 172.79​
GM GENUINE​	12623308	Fuel Pump Gasket / Seal	$ 3.72​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 3.72​
GM GENUINE​	19431551	Spark Plug Wire	$ 54.89​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 54.89​
GM GENUINE​	12681018	Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Solenoid / Actuator	$ 75.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 75.79​
GM GENUINE​	12696313	Vacuum Pump	$ 112.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 112.79​
GM GENUINE​	11547372	Harmonic Balancer Bolt	$ 22.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 22.79​
GM GENUINE​	19433116	Cylinder Head Gasket Set	$ 119.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 119.79​
GM GENUINE​	11546959	Cylinder Head Bolt	$ 3.13​	$ 0.00​	19​	$ 59.47​
GM GENUINE​	11611976	Cylinder Head Bolt	$ 2.94​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 2.94​
GM GENUINE​	12623757	Oil Pressure Filter	$ 7.41​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 7.41​
GM GENUINE​	12677002	Fuel Line / Hose	$ 62.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 62.79​
GM GENUINE​	12677004	Fuel Line / Hose	$ 32.89​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 32.89​
MAHLE / CLEVITE​	68019	Timing Cover Seal	$ 18.18​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 18.18​
PUROLATOR​	PBC38173	Cabin Air Filter Wholesaler Closeout -- 30 Day Warranty	$ 5.91​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 5.91​
STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS​	GDF103	Fuel Pump Camshaft Follower	$ 37.79​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 37.79​
WIX​	42488	Air Filter	$ 16.63​	$ 0.00​	1​	$ 16.63​
WIX​	WL10255	Oil Filter	$ 5.14​	$ 0.00​	4​	$ 20.56​
Discount​		$ -50.58​
Shipping​	Ground	$ 69.96​
Tax​		$ 61.87​
Order Total​		$ 1092.94
MasterCard​		-$ 1092.94
Balance Due​		$ 0.00

 

[trailblazer]

Gathered most of the items. The Gates branded coolant all-in-one pump assembly was damaged in shipping so I sent that back. Realized that the 6.2 has longer pushrods so I ordered some up. The photo is about 3.5 hrs into the job.

Tomorrow I’ll get much more done so long that it doesn’t rain.

Found something crazy when disassembling everything. The #2 spark plug wire wasn’t pressed in all the way. The wired was all charred with this white stuff and the electrode tip was gone. Explain the rough running engine that sounded like AFM lifter failure? Regardless, I’m tearing this all down to investigate any irrecoverable damage and then do the delete no matter what.

 

[pronstar]

Did you change out your pump? Could it be done without dropping the pan like on the Gen IV's?

Yeah i had them swap the oil pump. The shop pulled the motor to do the delete, so I had quite a few parts replaced since I didn’t have to pay to get to them:

• Texas Speed delete kit, OEM cam profile
• Timing chain and tensioner
• Oil pump
• All belts and cooling hoses
• Belt drive tensioner
• Water pump
• Oil pump control valve solenoid wire
• Circle D triple-disk converter, OEM stall
• Clean intake manifold, ports and intake valve

My tranny was a 1-year old GM warranty unit. I didn’t want to wait for yet another converter to fail (between the two trucks in my sig I’m at 3 converters) so I had it swapped.

FYI once you do the delete, you can literally delete the vacuum pump, it’s no longer needed.

 

[trailblazer]

Sheeeeet I bought a new GM vacuum pump. Will this ESV still have good brakes? Do plumb the power boost into the crankcase somehow?

 

[pronstar]

Sheeeeet I bought a new GM vacuum pump. Will this ESV still have good brakes? Do plumb the power boost into the crankcase somehow?

Some info here, plus Google and YouTube will net tons of hits

Vacuum Pump Delete - Great New Option

I ran across this recently while searching for options for a vacuum source when deleting the vacuum pump and thought I’d share. Pretty good idea/product - allows you to keep your catch can vacuum port without adding a TB spacer tapped with a port… Video: Product now available...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

I’m still running the factory vac pump, but if it fails/causes any issues, I’ll delete it.

 

[trailblazer]

I probably just install the new OE pump as I have it in-hand. Well, looks like the #4 exhaust lifter broke into pieces. The #6 exhaust lifter is ground down flat. 2-4-8 rollers are smooth. 1-3-5-7 rollers have small groves.

Well this sucks. Just snapped the plastic timing chain tensioner. Not happy. Like beyond angry. Sets me back weeks due to other maintenance items I need to get done around the house. SHEEEEEEEET!

 

[trailblazer]

Well, I watched a YT video of this guy who insists he’s done a ton of these Gen V AFM delete jobs and mentioned it isn’t uncommon to break that tensioner when trying to lock it back. He said I could pull the oil pump forward and carefully remove the tensioner assembly bolts. They are M8 flange head bolts and I did it! I used a pry tool to convince the pressed-in bushings to release from the tensioner bracket therefore give more room. I will trim down one of the good original bolts and use a new one as the head started to round off of the other.

New cam and HPFP lifter installed. Valley cover VLOM crap all removed (ground off rivet nuts), oil passage from oil pressure sensor to VLOM tapped & plugged with a Allen key set screw (M8) with Loctite Red, and the little plugs hammered into the towers on the block. Just need to grab a valley cover gasket tomorrow at the auto parts store for $11.