Ongoing Mods to my Esky

[Bombsquad85]

They def are.

For sure

 

[popo8]

Well back on topic after a while away...

Sooo on my way to work the other day, the transmission let go in the caddy...

Got a ride to work and then the tow dropped off my truck at my friends shop.

Now to decide what to do... do I have my tranny guy rebuild the tranny, give it a stronger shift and all that jazz, or do I just pick up a junk yard trans and throw it in?

I love the look and drive and ride of my caddy but I gotta be honest, after picking up a brand new bmw x3 M for the wife... man that thing is nice to drive... AND FAST!!!

ITS A 12 SECOND SUV!!! WTF...

Then again, I have a huge payment on that and Idk if I want another payment... although I can afford it, I just dont know that I want it.

Need to have a lil more rocker repair done to the caddy as the last fix didnt last (gonna cut em out and do all new rockers), but then I'm sinking money into this old girl...

Sooo many thoughts going through my head... idk what to do.

Anyways... pic of the big girl getting a ride, and the wifes new x3 M

2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[Tonyrodz]

Man, that 2 tone really looks good. Very unique for sure. As for the trans--if it was me--and it was--I'd do a full, complete rebuild, with some performance mods, ie better clutches, vette servo, etc. Do it once and do it right. You never know shat you're getting with a used trans or how long it'll last. I have all the mods in my trans, along with a convertor and other goodies, and it shifts amazing! Do it right, do it once. Good luck with the M3.

 

[95escahoe]

Well back on topic after a while away...

Sooo on my way to work the other day, the transmission let go in the caddy...

Got a ride to work and then the tow dropped off my truck at my friends shop.

Now to decide what to do... do I have my tranny guy rebuild the tranny, give it a stronger shift and all that jazz, or do I just pick up a junk yard trans and throw it in?

I love the look and drive and ride of my caddy but I gotta be honest, after picking up a brand new bmw x3 M for the wife... man that thing is nice to drive... AND FAST!!!

ITS A 12 SECOND SUV!!! WTF...

Then again, I have a huge payment on that and Idk if I want another payment... although I can afford it, I just dont know that I want it.

Need to have a lil more rocker repair done to the caddy as the last fix didnt last (gonna cut em out and do all new rockers), but then I'm sinking money into this old girl...

Sooo many thoughts going through my head... idk what to do.

Anyways... pic of the big girl getting a ride, and the wifes new x3 M

2002 Two Tone Escalade

I’d say get the trans rebuilt and beef it up, junkyard trans are hit and miss you might get a good one or you might get a bad one and have issues down the road, even if it has some kind of warranty it’s still a pain, that Bimmer looks great, in terms of the Caddy it’s a tough call a new whip would be nice but you gotta think about all the time and money you put into the Caddy, if it were me I’d rebuild the trans beef it up, fix the rockers and enjoy it, this generation Escalade it’s one of the best imo other then the front diff issues they are very reliable and last for years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[05Single]

Spend the money and have it rebuilt and have the chance to beef it up. That way you know it's new parts and your mind can be at rest knowing you wont have to worry about replacing a trans for another 100k+

I use to work at BMW in Seattle , anything M series is crazy fast. I liked the x5 M , they had the x3 but didnt have an M option at the time. I would take out m3s and m5s to lunch every week for "test drives". Swap out of my tech coveralls and pretend the car is mine as I grab lunch off the dollar menu at McDonalds lol.

 

[Fosscore]

I agree with the all the above.

I know we are all biased as we love our trucks and it is apparent you do too.

A new beefy trans with the goodies, fix that rocker issue and the money spent on that great looking tuxedo gen Caddy without a new payment will be less than the money sunk in on a new BMW and that monthly payment/depreciation for a new toy will feel good IMHO.

Good luck on your decision.

Besides put on your dress up clothes and drive the wife’s Bimmer if you need that quick blast of speed then roll up in style in the Esky later.

I bet the valet will notice the tuxedo Caddy more than the BMW. I sure would!!

Even on the flatbed that Caddy stands out beyond anything on the road next to it.

 

[popo8]

I probably shoulda added more detail. When I suggested the junkyard trans, that was only if I was to get it running and sell it.

Another thing I should add for u all to consider... cost of the repairs.

So the performance trans rebuild will cost me about 900 bucks with a new converter to assure everything is better than new.

The rocker fix for each side (only the driver side is obvious but there are some bumps behind the paint on the passenger side) is 1500 bucks per side.

So looking at 4k to make the truck right assuming nothing else goes wrong.

Another thing I should clarify is, I buy the wife new stuff... for myself, I only get used stuffs because I modify to much shyt to do it to something brand new with warranty, etc. Lol. I'd prob think about like a used cherokee srt8 or something for me.


Pros of doing the above:
1. I love this truck
2. 4k is the equivalent of a 333 dollar monthly payment for 1 year (if I compared it to another ride) which I would spend more and for longer financing a new ride.
3.


Cons of doing the above:
1. 4k is roughly equal to book value of the caddy.
2. Is this the beginning of the snow ball reaction which in the end does cost me more than a new (to me) vehicle.
3. Selling my caddy would also be a big hit with all that I have already invested in it, but in the end I never expect to get mod investment back out of a vehicle...

It's a tough decision because I really do like all the gadgetry of a new car (like her new bmw)... but I do love that body style of that gen caddy and all the mods I did to her.

2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[Fosscore]

Points well taken and the comparison is more easily visible with more info.

Man that is a tough decision.

End of the day only you can decide what the best option is.

Will the money in on the old make you feel good and warrant the outright expense or will the money on new make you feel more reward for new and having that new feeling even with a payment?

Nothing you don’t already know at hand. Not sure what to tell you as both options are rewarding in different areas.

Good luck man.

 

[popo8]

Man... this is tough.

Beating me up weighing the keep vs upgrade decision.

2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[massivespl]

Double post. Stupid slow site

 

[massivespl]

Mis we’ll fix the Escalade and buy a new suv. Doesn’t really cost much to keep the Escalade around after u fix the tranny. I sold my 2002 Tahoe after I bought my 2011 and now I miss my 2002 sitting in the driveway waiting for me to get home lol.

 

[popo8]

Mis we’ll fix the Escalade and buy a new suv. Doesn’t really cost much to keep the Escalade around after u fix the tranny. I sold my 2002 Tahoe after I bought my 2011 and now I miss my 2002 sitting in the driveway waiting for me to get home lol.

So ur saying sink the money into the escalade and keep it and buy a newer vehicle for myself?

What would the point be for me to spend the money on the esky and spend money buying something newer?

The whole quandary of the situation is the better use of the money between the two options... as for not costing much.

As I listed above...
-900 for performance build of tranny
-$$$??? For removal and reinstall
-1500 per side for rust repair on rockers

Thats over 4k... Not exactly "not alot of cost to keep the escalade."

All money that could go towards the newer vehicle...

2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[95escahoe]

Here’s an idea, if you have any local tech schools with a bodyshop you might be able to save some $ on the rockers, I’ve had a couple out this way to work on my previous Tahoe and the work they did came out great, out here they charge $10 an hour for labor plus paint and if you supplied the rockers you would probably be better off, just throwing it out there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[popo8]

Here’s an idea, if you have any local tech schools with a bodyshop you might be able to save some $ on the rockers, I’ve had a couple out this way to work on my previous Tahoe and the work they did came out great, out here they charge $10 an hour for labor plus paint and if you supplied the rockers you would probably be better off, just throwing it out there.

My bad on the triple post maybe a mod can delete them, Tapatalk is acting up again


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's not a bad idea... the only issue is the wait to get into the tech schools for work. Round here it's a very popular idea for cheap work... but... the line is soooo long and with them only knocking out a couple of cars (depends on the extent of the jobs) be school year, it just gets ridiculous...



2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[popo8]

Tonight, while working I went by a couple of dealerships and checked out the pickups... in stock form they just dont do it for me, especially for the money.

They would either need to be lifted or lowered, then we are back into spending money to modify a vehicle which I would have a payment on...

Maybe keeping the caddy is the way to go... even if it costs a good chunk of change... hopefully the big jobs are far and few between...

And...

I keep driving by the shop where my poor girl is sitting and I cant help but think...

Damn she looks good!

2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[Tonyrodz]

Tonight, while working I went by a couple of dealerships and checked out the pickups... in stock form they just dont do it for me, especially for the money.

They would either need to be lifted or lowered, then we are back into spending money to modify a vehicle which I would have a payment on...

Maybe keeping the caddy is the way to go... even if it costs a good chunk of change... hopefully the big jobs are far and few between...

And...

I keep driving by the shop where my poor girl is sitting and I cant help but think...

Damn she looks good!

2002 Two Tone Escalade

Why yes, yes she does

 

[popo8]

So it saddens me to say, the more I think about it, the closer I get to deciding on selling the caddy.

I prob wont do an official sale post till it's got a working trans in it again, but if you or any member on here is interested in buying it the way it is amd still broken, let me know and I'll try to give you an even better deal for being a part of this great community.

Everything done to it is listed in this thread.

2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[swathdiver]

Cons of doing the above:
1. 4k is roughly equal to book value of the caddy.
2. Is this the beginning of the snow ball reaction which in the end does cost me more than a new (to me) vehicle.
3. Selling my caddy would also be a big hit with all that I have already invested in it, but in the end I never expect to get mod investment back out of a vehicle...

Fix the Caddy! Overhaul the original transmission and get the bodywork done at your leisure. It's way less expensive than a car payment and she's yours, money or the value of the truck is not an issue for a guy like you with a Caddy like that. Yeah, they're fully depreciated now but so what? It would cost how much to morph another into looking like yours with all that you've done to it?

If you bought a newer one to start another project, say a 2012 Esky, what would that cost and how long to customize it based on budget and time?

 

[popo8]

Fix the Caddy! Overhaul the original transmission and get the bodywork done at your leisure. It's way less expensive than a car payment and she's yours, money or the value of the truck is not an issue for a guy like you with a Caddy like that. Yeah, they're fully depreciated now but so what? It would cost how much to morph another into looking like yours with all that you've done to it?

If you bought a newer one to start another project, say a 2012 Esky, what would that cost and how long to customize it based on budget and time?

I just fear it's at the "gambling" stage... where I will do all that to it, and next thing will be the motor, or rust somewhere else, etc etc and it becomes never ending.

Also, with that^ in mind I wouldnt be doing it to another one. I would get something new, or close to new (2 years old or less) and leave it close to the way it is as a daily driver.

Like this 16 srt8 or a new already modded f150 (5.0 not the eco boost)

2002 Two Tone Escalade

 

[95escahoe]

I just fear it's at the "gambling" stage... where I will do all that to it, and next thing will be the motor, or rust somewhere else, etc etc and it becomes never ending.

Also, with that^ in mind I wouldnt be doing it to another one. I would get something new, or close to new (2 years old or less) and leave it close to the way it is as a daily driver.

Like this 16 srt8 or a new already modded f150 (5.0 not the eco boost)

2002 Two Tone Escalade

How about a Raptor?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk