Stolen and Recovered 2012 Escalade Premium (re)build thread

[Jmccormick]

Thanks!

I messed up and didn't replace the upper strut mounts and completely regret that decision.

The old struts were 100% seized and beat the mounts pretty hard, ordering those today. Going to have to take this all apart again lol.


I don't know what I was thinking not replacing those while I was already in there.

 

[Jmccormick]

I installed some LED reverse lights to compliment the license plate lights and mirror puddle lights I already installed. Unlocking the truck at night, everything lights up and the regular reverse lights were bothering me lol.

My buddy had some matte black vinyl left over from wrapping his Mclaren so he gave me all of it.


I researched a lot on the chrome trim under the windows, everyone said it wasn't removable and the best bet was to have a body shop paint them. I figured I would take a peak for myself.


I removed the window trim.

everyone was wrong.

Found a bunch of these little clips holding the chrome piece on. So i removed those and removed the trim piece.

Wrapped the pieces.

I also wrapped the roof rack.


I didn't have enough for the lower chrome trim on the side steps, I'll have to order more.

I also don't know what I am going to do with the mirrors, they are going to be a little more difficult.

Here it is so far.

I'll do the passenger side tomorrow after work!


Thanks!

 

[select127]

nice work on the rebuild but imo the chrome accents is what sets off the Escalades. the blacked out look will have it looking like any other tahoe/yukon on here

 

[Jmccormick]

nice work on the rebuild but imo the chrome accents is what sets off the Escalades. the blacked out look will have it looking like any other tahoe/yukon on here

I would have to respectfully disagree.

Here is my inspiration and what my end result will be modeled after come spring time.

 

[Goodinblack]

All black with chrome 24s . Say no to black wheels

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[quest51210]

Either way looks beautiful man,so whatever your preference I say

 

[adventurenali92]

As far as buffing techniques, it varied panel to panel.

The passenger side was pretty bad.

My go to combo is Meguiars M105 and M205. It's a pretty user friendly combo, 105 takes out most of the scratches and 205 takes out the scratches 105 put in the paint to get the deeper stuff out.

I used a Torq 10FX Dual Action polisher in the small areas and the Torq 22D Dual Action polisher for the large open areas on the truck.


M105 with an Orange pad followed by M205 on a Green pad corrected the paint about 85% which is fine for a daily driver. I then followed that up with Chemical Guys Black Light Hybrid Radiant Finish on a blue pad. The black light really made the paint look wet. Then I followed that with Sonax Polymer Net Shield for sealant.

The tail gate was extremely rough,

I did M105 on a yellow heavy cut pad, followed by 205 on a orange pad, then 205 on a green pad.


Hood was extremely messed up.

3000 grit wet sand on my Torq 22d, followed by M105 Orange pad, M205 Green pad, Black light, sonax.


Hope this helps, every paint job is different.

There are a lot more Compounds out there that work better than the megs stuff, I didn't care, this is a daily driver. You can also snag the 105/205 combo at your local autozone.

You're progress is fantastic! And I love the chemical guys lineup! That's where I buy most of my detailing products for my business. Blacklight is absolutely amazing! And the torq machines are pretty awesome. I bought one at the beginning of the summer and love it!

 

[adventurenali92]

I like the blacked out look. Only thing I would leave chrome is the roof racks. I just really like the chrome with color matched and caps lol. Everything else blacked out looks good.

 

[Jmccormick]

Thanks dudes.


I still haven't wrapped the other chrome trim lol. Not really motivated.

I must not have enough posts because I can't post some items for sale

I do have some red OEM GM LED tails if interested.

 

[Jmccormick]

My main squeeze are Mustangs. Specifically 99-04 Cars.


I have parted out 4 03/04 Mach 1 Mustangs in the last year or two. The profits and parts help my ongoing build of my 2001 Bullitt Mustang.

Anyway, I drove 2 hours to the salvage auction yesterday to pick up my latest parts car.

First time Towing with the Escalade and I was more than pleased.

Coming from a 2015 Sierra with a longer wheel base I was thinking this Caddy wouldn't be very confidnence inspiring with the shorter wheel base. I was completely wrong.


I made this little pic stitch showing the interesting difference.


Bottom was my 2013 Sierra, as you can see shes squating. My 2014 and 2015 Sierra's both squat like this too. I just couldn't find decent pics of them loaded.
middle was my 2015 Yukon, also squating
top is the escalade sitting perfectly level.

Things to consider, the bottom two pictures have the car facing foward and the top pic the car is facing rear ward. Yes the engine is obviously the heavier end. The green car pictured in the bottom two pics has an iron block engine with a whipple twin screw and all support accessories and is considerably heavier than the aluminum non supercharged engine of the Mach 1. I also have the Mach 1 tugged all the way up to the front of the trailer and the Bullitt is sitting more in the middle.

I was extremely surprised with the auto level rear suspension and how it instantly aired itself up when the car was dropped on my trailer. The magnetic ride also helped drastically handing around corners and lane changes in heavy traffic. Extremely happy with how it performed.


Thought i would share!

 

[yates ™]

You would have had a little less squat if you would've moved the car back on the trailer a bit, centered more over the axles.

 

[rair_j23]

I'm interested in the red tail lights if they are still for sale. You can text me 6198904512

 

[rair_j23]

Thanks dudes.


I still haven't wrapped the other chrome trim lol. Not really motivated.

I must not have enough posts because I can't post some items for sale

I do have some red OEM GM LED tails if interested.

I'll take the red tail lights if they are available

 

[Smokymance]

Glad to see another Michigander in love with the 2 valve modulars!!!

Escy looks great!!

Where by you from in MI?

 

[Jonah52]

Looks great man. Fixing a lot of stuff and it sits nice with a trailer. Wondering if my shocks are bad!

 

[93blkongreenpro]

Looks great man. Fixing a lot of stuff and it sits nice with a trailer. Wondering if my shocks are bad!

Shocks are probabky fine. I would invest in the airlift 2000 helper bags. I have them on my 07 yukon slt for when I tow to level the back out. At ~100, they aren't bad. I installed them when I put my belltech 2" lowering springs on.

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[Jmccormick]

Glad to see another Michigander in love with the 2 valve modulars!!!

Escy looks great!!

Where by you from in MI?

I'm down here in Monroe.


Oddly enough I'm not in love with the 2v modular.

It's a 2001 Bullitt with a complete 03/04 Cobra 4v terminator swap. 4v T56 and IRS.

I recently sold the Whipple set up and now pursuing a twin 62/62 turbo set up with a now stroked 5.0 4v mod motor.

New mods for the caddy lack coming very soon! Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Jmccormick]

Haven't updated this in a long time,

Finished blacking out the chrome bits.

Friend repainted the mirrors for me and I wrapped the rest of the items.

Tony Hooked me up with 24'' TBSS Reps in Gray, and I installed 305 Nitto's.

Tony then hooked me up with a 2/4 drop with all the fixin's.

A friend took my headlights apart and blacked out the chrome and did a minor tint clear coat. They turned out a bit darker than anticipated so we plan to wet sand the tinted clear back off and respray with 100% clear. Along with matching the fog lights.

I also had another friend wrap the interior in carbon fiber for me. I hated the wood grain. It turned out great. I found a local salvage yard with surplus interior parts and scored a brand new center console with new lid too, Mine was ripped from the glass shards. I don't have pics of it installed.

I also tracked down one of the last heated ebony steering wheels from an LTZ Suburban that GM had left in their new parts inventory. Feels really nice, I hated the cheap wood grain stock one.

Few pics, enjoy thanks.

Also debating on removing the roof rack, opinions?

 

[07Burb]

Lookin GREAT!! Love those TBSS reps, too.

 

[NeverSatisfied]

Holy crap that looks amazing