VIC-1 intercom panel for soft tops

[US6x4]

Very nice work! Thanks for the detailed pics and explanations.

Thank you and you're welcome.

 

[US6x4]

THAT is nice fabrication. Very impressive!!

Al Jones
M923

Thanks for the compliment, much appreciated!

 

[US6x4]

Purchased Parts list for the entire 4 station VIC-1 intercom system:

(1) AM-1780/VRC Amplifier
(4) C-2298/VRC Crewmember control boxes
(2) H-161E/U headsets
(2) H-161F/U headsets
(1) CX-4720/VRC 12' Power cord, battery to amplifier (was 1' too short & I really needed a 13' version)
(1) CX-4723/VRC 3' cable
(1) CX-4723/VRC 18" cable
(2) CX-4723/VRC (TR-4723 version) 6' cables
(1) 4776D Rotary switch
(1) Handle, Switch 5930-00-130-5349 (p/n 5381051)
(1) 15 Amp Circuit breaker M13516-1-1
(2) Rubber Shell Wye Connector MS27147-1
(13) Rubber Shell Connectors MS27144-1 (Male rubber, female terminal), 14 gauge wire
(4) Rubber Shell Connectors MS27144-2 (Male rubber, female terminal), 16 gauge wire
(2) 1662 24 volt bulbs
(2) BAY15D bulb socket holder (ebay)
14 gauge Prestolite Wire (I ordered a 100' spool for this and other projects)
(2) 10 ga. x 3/8" hole ring terminal
(1) 14 ga. x 3/8" hole ring terminal
(2) M38 taillight covers
(3) sets of UJ329-10 u-bolts (6 total for 1330 u-joints)
(2) 3/4" cushion p-clamps NAPA# 770-1160
(3) 5/16"? cushion p-clamps NAPA# 770-1152
(25') Trim-Lok Rubber Edge Trim B00NL4938W (3/8" tall, 1/8" channel)
(2) grommets 3MRG5, Ø7/16" O.D. x Ø3/16" I.D. x 1/8" groove
(12) 1/2" Helix Suspension stainless double line clamps, HEXLC2500
(12) 5/16" N.F. stainless Acorn nuts
(6) 5/16" N.F. x 1 1/4" grade 8 cap screws, yellow zinc
(10) 5/16" N.F. x 1" grade 8 cap screws, yellow zinc
(14) internal tooth lock washers, cadmium
(14) 5/16" grade 8 SAE thick washers, yellow zinc
(2) 8-32 x 3/4" Button head socket cap screws, phosphate & oil
(4) 8-32 x 3/8" socket head cap screws, phosphate & oil
(6) 8-32 lock nuts w/integral external tooth washer, cadmium
(5) 10-32 x 1/4" socket head cap screws, phosphate & oil
(7) 10-32 x 3/8" socket head cap screws, phosphate & oil
(12) 10-32 x 5/8" socket head cap screws, phosphate & oil
(2) 1/4" N.F. x 1 1/4" cap screws

whew...there are so many line items that I had better post this before I hit a glitch and it gets erased. I will edit this post if I remember anything I forgot.

 

[77 AMG]

Hey, US6x4. Gary over in Winchester says "hello". He is going to be helping me put my system together in about a week, hopefully. He is a *very* knowledgeable fellow!

 

[US6x4]

Hey, US6x4. Gary over in Winchester says "hello". He is going to be helping me put my system together in about a week, hopefully. He is a *very* knowledgeable fellow!

oh, cool! I emailed him some photos of my finished installation along with my gratitude for the quality of their work.
Knowledgeable he is. Even after studying through the intercom technical manuals for months I still struggled to have a conversation at his level, but he is exactly the kind of person you want to talk to about complicated topics like radios. Did you get to see any of their processes or are the trade secrets kept close to their chest?

 

[77 AMG]

I didn't get to see any of the "goings ons", but, I DID get to catch a glimpse of the repair shop as we went past it. The company is still an active .GOV contractor, so.....
He went *so* far over my head on the radios and VICs, that my eyes kind of glazed over, but, he realized that and was kind enough to break things down to a much more comprehensible level for me. He explained that one of the CVC sets that I had grabbed was for a VIC3, and, this is how I would know. Cool. (Battery powered ANC built into the left headphone is the big tell, btw.)

 

[US6x4]

Here are some random photos of the H161 headsets and some of the intercom cables. I got (4) NOS headsets from 1993; 2 were H-161E/U and the other 2 were H-161F/U.

 

[77 AMG]

Interesting in that you have the *old* rubber flat plug for your headsets. I have the round *pin* style like your *bail-outs* have. Gary says that it doesn't matter, as long as you don't have the battery-powered ANC headsets, otherwise, you are looking at VIC3 stuff.

 

[US6x4]

Interesting in that you have the *old* rubber flat plug for your headsets. I have the round *pin* style like your *bail-outs* have. Gary says that it doesn't matter, as long as you don't have the battery-powered ANC headsets, otherwise, you are looking at VIC3 stuff.

I ended up with both the flat plug (E model) and the round style (F model) bailout connectors.

 

[77 AMG]

Copy that. It seems that I have *several* variants to be aware of at work- flat pin, round plug, and at least 2 of the battery powered ANC setups.
One of the CVC helmets that I am repairing. (replacement speaker, and new ear foam)

 

[US6x4]

77 AMG,

I don't know much about the CVC helmets but they look like they would be fun to use (at least for short durations). Are you going to have helmets on all ends of your intercom?

 

[77 AMG]

Yep, CVC helmets will be available for all stations. (4, eventually due to crewcab conversion) The helmets don't weigh very much, plus, they seem to hold the headsets in place better than just a over-the-head setup. Also makes easier to zip by the cops when you have the windshield down and goggles on.

 

[US6x4]

Yep, CVC helmets will be available for all stations. (4, eventually due to crewcab conversion) ...

77 AMG, how is your crew cab conversion going?

 

[77 AMG]

Well, to be honest... right now it is on hold, as I am still needing to get my truck home, and find another, decent cab to work with. The old M54 at work is absolutely shot from rust!

 

[US6x4]

This intercom is still one of my favorite additions but I had some whining in the background that would change with engine rpm which sounded a lot like a turbo whistle. Some folks in the radio forum found that grounding the amplifier itself to the same ground as its power source would eliminate the noise. I added an 11 foot long 6 gauge ground cable to the amplifier, routed it through the roof bow holders and down thru the floor. This took away the background noise and now the only whine I hear is the actual turbo or my kids

 

[kubotaman]

Great write up as always!

 

[US6x4]

I just finished reloading all of the pictures in this thread back to full size. When the forum switched software a few years ago it had reduced all the pictures to almost a swatch size.

*VIC-1 update - I still love the intercom and it is working strong and clear. The only complaint I have is that I have to listen to every little click, cluck, whistle, and other random rubbish noises that my kids think is fun to blow into the boom mic...

 

[US6x4]

My little man is looking geared up and ready to go in his pj's


...and then reality sets in...

 

[AnimalMother73]

This is AMAZING!! Nice work!!

 

[US6x4]

This is AMAZING!! Nice work!!

Well, thank you! We came out of the covid lockdowns with another kid in the family so I ordered up another NOS H-161E headset for the little guy and he's almost old enough now to keep them on during a drive.