I recently got a spare 2005 Escalade AWD 6.0. I've since moved away from home so I am without a lot of tools as well but I have moved into a new place and I am trying to build back up a collection and make my own place to work on stuff. I never got the chance to hot rod on things when I was younger and didn't really have anyone to show how. That's always been my goal and I would like to start before the government starts forcing us in driverless electric pods that are illegal to customize haha

Anyway budget will be a factor and the other main thing is this project will hopefully teach me a lot and help me on future builds (like a future cam swap in my 2017 LT1 Camaro which I know is a lot more difficult than a LS). From reading I am thinking starting with a LQ9 isnt too bad (flat top pistons, upgrades in the rotating assembly, etc.), but I also have a 4L65. Ideally I would like to swap in a 6L80/90 but I know that is too much of a electronics/controls task. I also think a 4L80 will be too much expense (driveshaft shortening/lengthening, cross member mod, crank spacer), but I am also really turned away by the higher gearing and the fact I don't have too many options for rear/front diff gear changes.

I am thinking getting 799 heads since I want as high as compression as possible. My plan is to make a dedicated E85 engine and I don't understand why this is never done. I know a lot of people bash ethanol but given its readily available near me and its knock resistance I see this as a good plan. I wish I could go into the 12.5-13:1 compression ratio range but I don't see any way to do that without a more serious build and more money, unless there is a way I am not thinking of. I would also get the usual GMT900 intake manifold, maybe flex fuel pump injectors (however I am thinking I will need a lot of fuel pump and injector help and stock flex fuel stuff isnt going to cut it).

I have also given FI a lot of thought as well, and I know a lot of people are probably going to say forget about compression and turbocharge it. If I could weld and fabricate I would definitely do a cheap turbo build. Even if I could get to 12:1 compression with E85 and a decent size cam I would think I could make decent power. Anyone have any suggestions on how I could do it with budget/stock parts? I guess there is a reason there are no high compression E85 builds like this on the internet (I see none on LS1 tech or any other LS board either), but in theory I see no reason why it won't work.

 

You have definitely done a considerable amount of reading before posting and I'd like to thank you for that. I can't answer all your questions and honestly it is a little difficult to sort out everything you are asking.

High compression LS engine build: Although there are many high comp engine builds for light weight cars IMHO it wouldn't make sense in an Escalde because they are simply to heavy. These big body trucks almost always need boost to be "fast" (11 second 1/4 mile or faster). That's why I think you don't see many high comp builds.

E85 only motor: Its just so easy to make a vehicle capable on E85 and regular pump gas with the addition of a flex fuel sensor. Running only E85 seems silly, you never know when you have to drive out of state and theres no E85 to be found.

That's just my thoughts on a few of your questions theres many smarter guys on here than me that will likely chime in.

 

Thanks, what I meant to make it flex fuel so if I had to I could run 93, but I would like to optimize it for E85 as much as I can with higher compression. It seems like it would almost be better to sell it and get a 07+ Escalade with the 6L80. I think the 4 speeds kill any hopes of having something decently fast and in addition I think you lose a lot of power by not locking the torque converter at WOT, which I believe the 6L80's do. I know whatever I do isn't going to be fast by any means which is really disappointing, but I am hoping it will be a good learning experience.

 

Being flex fuel capable is a very nice option. Many trucks both GMT800 and GMT900 came from the factory with the flex fuel option. I sorta thought all escalades had that option but I'm probably wrong.

While the 6 speed autos are great, seem to hold a ton of power and have a good gear set. The 4L80 is the most popular transmission swap I've seen for these trucks. Even guys with GMT900 trucks often opt for a 4l80 over a 6l80. There are also many very very fast trucks with 4l80s so I wouldn't say you have to sell your truck and get a newer one. Especially if its paid off.

 

Just turbo charge or super charge the stock motor, you will need a few head upgrades that can be done on the truck. Then you can have some fun and not blow your wad... Lol.

 

Yes I keep thinking about it, but then everytime I try to add up all the little things I need then I get demotivated haha

From what I have researched it dosent appear there is a way to get high compression with stock/budget parts. The most it looks like you can get is with 4.8/5.3 heads and looks like you could to maybe 11:1 after milling. So my question is how would you even get higher compression with aftermarket castings?

The more I think about this the more I think its not going to happen. I am just getting really discouraged since it feels like I don't have the tools, knowledge, and space. I like the Escalade for its AWD so you can actually put the power you make to the ground and not waste it on wheelspin, but I also the traction control will start to intervene at higher power levels and unfortunately we can't tune the modules that control it. I am completely baffled that its 2019 and modding trucks this old is still this expensive. Especially when more and more of these trucks are being retired and wrecked. sometimes I just feel like whats the point when a do-gooder can just go buy a Tesla and run twice as fast as you would ever think about being haha.

 

Do the escalades not have a button to turn traction control off? I know Denalis do. If not you can pull a fuse or install a toggle switch to override it. I have 862s (4.8/5.3) heads opened up for the lq4 bore on my 6.0 in my Tahoe. The compression bump really helps with the low end power and responsiveness.

I know it's easy to get discouraged because nothing is cheap. If I were you I'd do some minor mods like 862 heads with a mild cam and tune to the Escalade and use it as the Daily driver tow rig for a "racecar".

 

Yes you can disable it, but I think the limitation here is more that you have an open differential in the transfer case. I really want to be able to launch it with full traction and I don't think the ESC module is up to the task of braking the wheels right on launch to be of any good use in a performance application.

Do you know what your compression is roughly after they unshrouded the valves? From what I understand you would also have to upgrade to the 2.0 in intake valve on the 4.8/5.3 heads also, but I am wondering how far you could push the milling to get compression up.

And yes I am with you about the tow rig, now I have a backup vehicle that I can drive in the rain when I don't want the camaro dirty. Even with my mostly stock camaro (just have ported intake/tb, airade intake, and E85) I have clocked it at 11.9 unofficially and 0-60 in 3.8. If I could invest in some drag radials and get traction I think I could drop that down to mid 11s and 3.3-3.5 second. This is way faster than I think the Escalade could ever even think of going haha

 

There are a few guys like Atomic running AWD/4wd with a ton of power. His truck has/had a whipple, 2 turbos and nitrous all at the same time on a stroker. He has videos in his build thread launching it in AWD it looks pretty savage.

I can't comment much on the heads on my Tahoe since the previous owner had them done but he said with the gaskets he used it had right at or above 11-1. I run it on pump 93 since the comp is kinda high and it gets up and scoots better than I thought a Tahoe would.

 

Thanks for the info I appreciate it.

As a side note, with a "2-car" 20x21 ft I think garage, is it even feasible to be doing this type of work in it like swapping motors and transmissions? I have seen pictures of other people swapping motors and transmissions and rebuilding transmissions in what appeared to be smaller garages.