Hickey Sidewinder installation
 

I just got my sidewinder installed and wanted to share what I did. I was fortunate because my sidewinder came with the mounting hardware, PO said it came off a '72 blazer. I was expecting it to be plug and play, however I had to make minor changes to the rear support plate, relocated 4 bolt holes and adding 3/8" flat stock to were the rear support plate attaches to the rear cross brace. I just couldn't understand why it would not just bolt up, but as you guys know, back in the day tolerances where not as tight as today. So following are pics of what holds the winch between the frame rails etc. I'm including pics with measurements for folks who may not have the mounting hardware. Keep in mind these measurements are approximate and you may need to make minor adjustments for your application.

This should work for '69 - '72 Blazer/Jimmy and possibly for '67 - 72 trucks. I don't have a truck, so buyer beware! I tried to find an installation manual for our Blazer/Jimmys but had no luck. Hickey Enterprises made and sold specific mounting hardware as a separate item when you bought a winch and they had them available for any of the 4x4s of the day.

I have the skid plate but I need to buy a new front bumper before I install it, I will follow up when I've done this.

In this pic it shows the three items I had to work with. Front cross brace, bottom mounting plate and rear cross brace.

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Subscribed, the 69 we bought had one of these that I need to go through to get working again.

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Pic of rear cross brace installed. Mounts just ahead of the factory cross member.

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Pic of rear cross brace and bottom support plate installed.

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Pic of front cross brace

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Pic with sidewinder, rear mounting plate and rear cross brace

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Pic of sidewinder and front cross brace

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Front cross brace with bolt holes etc.

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Front cross brace with measurements. This is going to be the hardest to reproduce unless you have one side by side since the ends are offset. Keep in mind your actual measurements may differ slightly due to inaccuracies in frame dimensions etc. Things were not as tight as they are now. And after 40 years or so, even you start to sag:)

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Rear cross brace

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Bottom mounting plate

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Sorry for the pic bombardment but trying to show as best I can. Good luck with your installs. And make sure to post a pic of your rig hanging from a tree when your done:)

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Thank you for posting pics on the mounts. I have a while till I ready to install my sidewinder but the only mount I got with it is for a old bronco.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...ps50971801.jpg

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How wide is the bottom mounting plate? I am guessing 6" but I could be wrong. Want to order up all the steel. I can have that plate broke and the 2 angles not problem. Might have to make up a few sets

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OOPS, forgot the width of the plate in the pic. It is 8" wide.

Brian, if your going to make several sets, I would recommend you make one set that fits and works before cutting, bending and welding the rest. The angles I posted are definitely approximations.

Re: Hickey Sidewinder installation
 

Ahh Thank-you,
I think this should be put in the FAQs, very useful and needed info for others.

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Just got my skid plate mounted. Pics follow. The front of the skid plate mounts to the Lic. Plate holes in your bumper, the rear mounts to two support brackets. I had to make mine because they were missing. The four holes on the bottom of the skid plate line up with the four bolts that mount your winch to the bottom winch support plate. If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks

This is the skid plate with dimensions. Skid Plate thickness is 1/8".

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Rear skid plate support X 2. I used 1/4 x 1" stock to make these.

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Different angle of skid plate.

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My new bumper mounted and trimmed to fit winch.

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Rear skid plate support bracket mounted to rear winch cross member

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Skid plate mounted

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Very nice!

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