Hitachi 8180 PERDISCO restore/mod.

[johnciaccio]

My first boombox since 85! My father sold my old GE double deck boombox years ago but getting back into vintage audio.

Purchased a Hitachi 8180 in excellent shape that just needs a good cleaning. I have taken most of it apart to get to the pots and switches that need Deoxit. The cassett deck still has intact belts and pinch rollers are like new! Still going yo replace the belts as I don’t get movement. However I don’t have any cassettes to test with now.

I have already ordered a Bluetooth receiver board but also want to install new dial lights and if posssible add some to the cassette and VU meters.

Where are the lights located for the dial? Looks like they are towards the bottom? Also does anyone know if it is easy to convert the AM/FM range from Japan to U.S. standard? Not a big deal as I rarely listen to radio but since I am in there thought I could check.

I have the 8180E service manual.

Thanks in advance. Pictures coming soon.

 

[goodman]

Good luck with the restoration.
It will be interesting to see the installation of the BT module.

 

[johnciaccio]

Thanks. Its a pretty common mod. This is the board I ordered. Has a wide input voltage so it should be the easiest to add on. The only problem is finding the dial lights. I might have to separate some more of the boards to get to them which I try to avoid unless necessary.

 

[Spax]

Thanks. Its a pretty common mod. This is the board I ordered. Has a wide input voltage so it should be the easiest to add on. The only problem is finding the dial lights. I might have to separate some more of the boards to get to them which I try to avoid unless necessary.

Should there be a link to the BT board? it'd be good to see what you're planning on using because I see BT in the futures of many of my boxes!

 

[johnciaccio]

Amazon.com

Has aux in also. Not sure if it is digital or analog though.

 

[Spax]

That's a nice looking little board, Aux in would kill two birds with one stone. Sadly Amazon's saying it's not available in my neck of the woords but I'll see if I can hunt it down on AliExpress or similar.

Edit: Seems like they are on Ali Express, no idea if they're the same or rip-offs though

 

[Tinman]

That board has more inputs and outputs than most boxes.
The positive and negative inputs are definitely nice.
I'm used to modules where the pos, neg and ground solder pads about 1/16" wide and about the same distance apart from each other.