The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Hello All!

Finally after years and years of searching, I finally found the right blazer for me! 72 K5 in one of my favorite colors, Olive Green! I've been after these old Hickey Accessories long before even thinking of owning a blazer at the time. Well of course, price ranging 18-20k for something that needs practically a whole new body. Any who! Traded my Square body pickup for it and now just acquiring parts for it. . Blazer is solid and originally came from Texas, curious to know if anyone may have owned it on here. Should be a very fun build and tricked out with almost everything from their catalog.

Like to keep this a running post and more of documentation for me! Feel free to comment or run ideas through if you think something I could do might be better! Always have open ears! Thanks!

Chris

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

I rotated the picture for easier reading, I have the cargo hooks that go with the roof rack if interested pm me.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Following up on the build, Thank you on the photo edit, still getting the hang of this form, I'm used to the classic Oldsmobile form style.

I got the roof of my blazer and getting ready for repairs, I'm not much with of a fiberglass guy, but some of the corners got me in questions. Cracks on the other hand should be a piece of cake. Had a lot of experience working on the ATC90 fenders from back in the day. Mocking up the roof rack for install before painting in Raptor White!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

I have no advice on the fiberglass repairs, but just wanted to say that I enjoy a themed build and I'm looking forward to seeing it come together.

Well optioned rig originally!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Very nice looking rig as the factory made it. Some notable options too.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Here is what I have, and a patch panel if you need it.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Id most definitely be interested to add those to the build if possible!

I was completely surprised by the options this was equipped with, majority will be returning to the build!

Also, the past weekend, I took a ride to get another long search, Hickey Roll Bar! Super nice guy I dealt with, even had a squarebody Hickey hood I could not go home with lol. Whilst that's underway, I am working on my sidewinder winch to fit underneath the bumper for another addition to the build!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

I'll do 80 plus shipping, if still interested send me your zip and I'll get a shipping quote.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Do some research on the top being SMC and not fiberglass. I remember posts in the past where the SMC is a different process.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Small Week update.

Honestly not too much done, waiting for Carlisle swap meet to come and go before I start continuing my purchasing!

I appreciate the heads up on the SMC, and been trying to get all the bearings in order to go about and fixing that!

Did get my Jerry Can in prime and paint these past few days!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Monthly Update:

Did get a few more puzzle pieces for the K5, Carlisle happened in the beginning of the month, had a couple buddies meet up and buy some parts from one, another. 15x10 steelies from wheel vintiques, hatch and parts, another sidewinder for make good or parts, skid plate and grille guard.

I wanted to add a custom touch so i decided to talk with one of my overseas friends and if he could make me something out of plexiglass, man these turned out perfect! just need to make the center bend.

Decided to make a good winch out of the most recent one and through all my good parts at that one. Check out the original decal on the top plate! topped it off with a HE knob for disengagement from motorcity k5.


Lastly, just been painting and cleaning parts, all new u-joints in the shafts as well as the cv ball!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

I know I really should get working on the blazer, but nah! More accessories!!

With help, finally got a hickey steering wheel all completed and ready to mount!
Dug up my license plate bezel I had stashed from my blue Squarebody a while back. I got bored one night this week and decided to polish roof racks. I think that will give it a nice touch with the white, grommets came as well. Ooo, also got my switch for the 4wd indicator, ordered a green light and bezel. Need to get some measurements off one of ya for the bracket!

Just messing around with my emblem, I took off the blue backing and tried my green that just came back from overseas from a good friend, just need to heat and bend for the bevel. Should look quite nice!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

It’s now December,

Really not much done to the actual truck still but still going after the loose odds and ends, ended up getting a tach cluster off a local super cheap and decided to redo that while the winter months hit. New AC Delco amp gauge and with a luttys lens and bezel since they are practically 30min away. I go completely old school when it comes to part searching and decided to take a trip to look for anyone having trucks in backyards or whatnot to see what they might have. Lo and behold, after a few stops and a lead. Another K5 potentially for sale with some goodies on it I could definitely use!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

The '71 Bronze Blazer is a shame.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

nice project and a real nice option list. wish you were closer, i'd give you another sidewinder winch for parts.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Following. I have a survivor 72 Olive Green with a few Hickey goodies. Some I’m not sure if Hickey or not.

Brush Guard
Hitch
Roof Rails
Dual reserve tanks
Spare carrier

May be putting it up for sale this Spring. Tough decision! Love it.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Hey man, sent you a pm! Have a couple questions!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Thank you!! Yeah I’m super excited to get it all back up to par and on the road! Ironically enough, have 2 parts sidewinders as well to make that one pictured!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Been slow through December, with holidays and such, did get a great deal on inline tube for all my lines. Christmas special was going on and just perfect timing. While that was happening, a very good buddy hooked me up with my transmission and t case as well as a crossmember and Hickey Orignal Side Steps!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Check all of your lines ASAP. The kit I bought from ILT had two proportioning valve to frame lines that were for another application. Of course I had bought the lines two years prior to actually needing them. Upon calling them, I was met with a rude condescending representative that stated that they should have been unboxed and checked upon receipt, and that I needed to buy another whole kit to get the two lines I needed at a cost of about $200. I did that and finally received the line I needed, but this one incident has left a very sour taste in my mouth for that company. Other well respected members have had very lackluster dealings with them, mostly over mis-bent lines.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

I appreciate you sharing about this, imma double check em immediately once I get home from work, I ended up buying another set of lines for another project I was working on, they came and I had to sift through them to figure out which ones were which. I wasn’t pleased with that, it seemed like ILT is going down hill from when I used to deal with them for a couple other projects… I’ll see what I come up with!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

January been slow, even now February…

Got my custom emblem bent up and waiting on my NOS bezel to come in, then time to work on the grille and get that all situated. Stripping the crossmember for paint and that will also be done!!

Anyone who has Hickey Accessories, Please shoot me a message, I would buy and like to add to my build! Much appreciated, and catch you guys in March!

Update! Emblem looks killer!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

March and April

March
-was very successful, but I did end up flipping some wheels to end up with US101 Indy Mags, 15x10. Soon after, ended up purchasing some 35x12.5 Cooper Rubber with Whites out of course to give a nice old school touch! Good Friend of mine found a set of 69-72 style windshield mount light brackets! Now, could part with my 73+ brackets.

April
-Just been selling some parts off that I don’t think I would need. The swap meets were coming up and had a few purchases there, got some trim and seals there, and just recently got parchment sun visors.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

Very early May update!

I finally got my axle pulled out, wire wheeled, and now painted! After going through different lift options and buying and not using, ended up deciding on going with an 4” lift. Got all new bolts and hangers for the rear end, got that installed, and finally started to relief my shelf from some Hickey accessories!

Got another thing knocked off my list, I could not for the life of me find a front hitch for the grille guard, a buddy of mine got me all the dimensions and we just knocked it out this week and installed that on the guard too!

Lastly, my brand new AutoFab hood came! I put an order into them back in January during winter, figured it be a bit till it comes, got a email from them last Friday and it’s already here!!

Just about ready to switch to the front and tackle that, buddy of mine talked me into sandblasting the body, soon I will be pulling that off to get that done. Gonna have to search for rear frame horns, someone cut mine off. Yay…

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

End of May Update!

The weathers been very uncooperative and really can’t get any painting nor work done..

I have started messing with my roof, it was far worse than I thought…
I ground out a lot of the cracks, holes and etc to start filling, used foam to fill alot of the actual holes in the roof, also seen a product on YouTube a guy used on his top to do a lot of the same work, decided to try it and thoroughly impressed!

Still got alot to go but it’s becoming more and more sturdy to how it was before, should be done here soon and hopefully painted with a new suprise I have to go pick up fathers day weekend!

Still on the search for hickey parts, in need of a gas tank skid plate, trailer hitch and now unfortunately side steps again. A friend of mine figured out I have the truck style steps… Hopefully one of you guys maybe trade??

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

June Update:

Nothing major more done to the truck, getting everything together for the front axle. On a side note, I picked up sliding windows for the topper, I always liked em and was reasonably priced for me! As well as, I make the Hickey Shimmy Kit that I was searching for, for a good few years. Waiting for the U bolts to come in for the tie rods. At last, I got the hood roughly fitted for now just to give me more ambition to work on it more, super pleased, still need to add latches and brackets into the hood.

Still on the search for rear horns as well as Hickey Blazer side steps, still will trade or sell my truck style ones.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

July-August Update:

I really haven’t been working on it much till last weekend(Labor Day Weekend). It’s been awfully hot here and now finally cooling off here now the beginning of September.

A fellow on FB that had a set of rear frame horns that he shipped me and just cleaned em up a little, need to add just a small triangle to the frame and that will be back to factory.

I flipped the Blazer around in the garage and wanted to get working on the front suspension, axle, and steering. With it facing out, decided to throw on my one grille I had while I wait for the new one to ship. It really brought the moral up for me to get busy again! Got my front springs, bushings and shackles all on and wire wheeled the axle for paint.i took the differential cover off and well… let’s say I should not have. Full center section is shot, ring gear, spider gears, bearings and pinion all all junk. Off to find a new/used axle… let me know if you got anything.

I’m wrapping up on my roof too! Just built all my missing sections back with foil tape, mesh and resin! It looks great! Just need to flip over and cover some small minor bits to get it ready for the raptor liner.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

I like the 4” lift, tire and wheel combo. Gives it a great stance!

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

If I didn't have my 16.5" steelies, I would definitely rock the aluminum slots.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

I love West Systems products, how did they work for you?

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

For what I'm using it for to fix all my areas, and re-bond my hatch, PERFECT! I have nothing bad to say about them what so ever, I've even started using them for my ATC restorations regarding the old US90s.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

https://www.hotrod.com/features/chev...-982-786-122-1

Here's an article about Vic Hickey's conversions. It's more based on his c10 Baja 500 trucks. But there's a lot of his period upgrades being used. It's an interesting read

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

September-December 2025 Update:
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Been quite a bit here on the forums, haven't messed with the K5 much, not till October when a buddy sent me after a set of axles down West Virginia. Opened them both up and were super clean inside, and very usable! Changing from 3.08 gears to these axles with 3.73s should help out those 35'' tires nicely.


My hatch was a complete disaster, I just got done wrapping up the work that I was dreading, lots of little repairs from the rotted sheet metal that hold the latches on, cracks in fiberglass and it splitting into two pieces due to the old age of its last bond. Now, bonded with 3m, fully prepared to prep for paint and assemble!

I completely redid the rear axle, changing from an open to now a Auburn Grip-Loc, new seals, bearings, the whole 9 yards. Need to get my diff cover off the other as well as the complete backing plates to finish the job.

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

(More pictures from the last update)

Re: The 72 Olive HICKEY Build!
 

January 2026 Update!
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Since the rear axle is ready to go underneath the truck, time for the front!
Put a huge order into RA for all my bearings, seals, U-joints. Ordered a set of Warn Hubs, I know the purists won't be happy without blue dials.....
Wanting to install an cross-over steer conversion, I was sourcing for a passenger side knuckle and came across EWO who was cheaper than Reid at the time for the 4 stud upgrade. Ordered only that and made out tremendously with a full kit ready to go for cross-steer!

Painted now, just waiting on parts to come in to continue!

Went to KY for an set of bucket seats, they were not something I was pleased with but it could be better than nothing. Still will source more in the meantime.

I started getting involved with powder coat and been doing a bunch of smalls that need done for the final vision in mind!

Hope to keep you updated monthly, check in at March!


Chris