Excellent choice! I can't see much of anything wrong with the Acura, how many miles? Today I learned 1st gen Odysseys have normal, front hinged doors. Just like the 1st gen MPV. This would be an awesome daily driver if it had sliding doors. I'm guessing the newer Odysseys would take that motor and transmission just like any other Lego/Honda.
1st gen odyssey weighs 3400lbs. A little less then the CL. A second gen is roughly 4300lbs.
Petrolburner wrote: Excellent choice! I can't see much of anything wrong with the Acura, how many miles? Today I learned 1st gen Odysseys have normal, front hinged doors. Just like the 1st gen MPV. This would be an awesome daily driver if it had sliding doors. I'm guessing the newer Odysseys would take that motor and transmission just like any other Lego/Honda.
I've owned 3 of them and in many ways, the swinging door is much better than the sliding door.
Never falls off the track, weighs less, offers a more user friendly entrance for mobility limited passengers (it's easier to get in and out if you can hold onto a door than step into an opening that is more like a cave). They allow for "real" operable windows, and lower the roofline (no upper track necessary). They also lower the center of gravity a lot (sliding doors are heavy, but they are heavier at the top than at the bottom, and need roof reinforcing). Cupholders still work. No conflict with a gas door.
It's a pretty huge door opening. They swing wider than normal- we had no problem fitting 450 lb passengers in the rear seat.
I'd take a 1st gen over a 2nd gen any day of the week- primarily because of the rear swinging doors, and the lighter more nimble package (and the better fuel economy).
I will be watching. With great interest.
In reply to SVreX:
Interesting points. I have barn doors on my E350 and I often wish for sliding doors that would fit in a parking space and not get blown around in the wind. Interesting about the weight gain with the sliders. Newer vans seem to have solved the window issue, which would definitely suck.
I would be interested in doing a fly-n-drive next year if you plan to sell following the challenge.
I will keep that in mind.
I fixed the misfire today. I was able to isolate it to the right most rear cylinder. I swaped in a new coil pack and the misfire went away.
Drove the car and it went well. The motor ran smooth and the transmission shifted well into all gears. The clutch felt decent and I was able to catch a wheel into second. Car has a bad wheel bearing up front, but the parts I am concerned about seem solid.
I'm probably the only person jealous of the 2003 CL-S with the six speed. A 1999 TL was the first car I ever purchased. Automatic TL and CL were prone to early and often failure.
Andy Neuman wrote: I'm probably the only person jealous of the 2003 CL-S with the six speed. A 1999 TL was the first car I ever purchased. Automatic TL and CL were prone to early and often failure.
Nope not the only one. I would rock the shizzle out of that Acura.
Yup, that's a sexy car, always liked them. My brother had an old 2 door V6 Legend back in the day, that's another awesome Acura.
This van is gonna scoot!
Petrolburner wrote: In reply to SVreX: Interesting points. I have barn doors on my E350 and I often wish for sliding doors that would fit in a parking space and not get blown around in the wind. Interesting about the weight gain with the sliders. Newer vans seem to have solved the window issue, which would definitely suck.
I'll bet the floor of your E350 is nearly 12" higher than the Odyssey.
When you approach a big vehicle, the mental process is, "Big truck- gonna have to climb". In that scenario, there's not a "convenience factor" to a swinging door. It's just big, heavy, and cumbersome.
When you approach a 1st gen Ody, the mental process is more like, "Huh, this is more like a station wagon", and the convenience factor starts to be related to the ease of use of the doors.
We used ours to haul people to their doctor's appointments. Did hundreds of trips. We also had a 2nd gen MPV van in the fleet with rear sliders (which is in all ways a superior vehicle), and passengers had a strong preference for the Odysseys. They didn't like the MPV much at all- they felt like cargo.
I am generally referring to people with a bit more limited mobility.
pimpm3 wrote: I will keep that in mind. I fixed the misfire today. I was able to isolate it to the right most rear cylinder. I swaped in a new coil pack and the misfire went away.
No burn outs? How else will you know it has an lsd?
Van is in Jacksonville. Picking it up this morning went smoothly. Engine removal should commence next week.
Looking forward to attending my first challenge (spectator), this is going to be awesome.
Picked up a cross member, motor mount brackets, and motor mounts from a 1998 cl 3.0 for $160 shipped today. Not sure if I will use them or not but, between the stock odyseey parts the stock 2003 cl type s parts and the 3.0 cl parts I should be able to cobble something together. I will mark each part I use so that I can do a build guide of sorts in case anyone else wants to build a 6-speed j powered ra1 odyssey.
Slight change of direction. I picked up a second odyssey this morning. It is in better condition then the beige one, and is a more desirable color combo. It also runs and drives.
So for $325.00 plus $173.00 in fees I now own a white ex honda odyssey. This one's engine will be transferred to the beige one which will then be sold.
I got it from copart. The passenger airbag deployed for some reason, which is the only damage to the car. State farm was the seller.
sethmeister4 wrote: Yup, that's a sexy car, always liked them. My brother had an old 2 door V6 Legend back in the day, that's another awesome Acura. This van is gonna scoot!
I had one of the first-gen Acura Legends with a 5-speed. Crazy thing was how much tech in the NSX was based off the Legends. The Legend had a C27A 2.7L and the NSX motor was based off the foundation of the C27 but punched out and fitted with DOHC heads and VTEC. The NSX's ABS as derived off the Legend's crazy 3-channel ABS (That was a real treat to work on). There was even a guy that had a G1 Legend with a supercharged NSX drivetrain swapped into the front, it was ludicrous.
pimpm3 wrote: I got it from copart. The passenger airbag deployed for some reason, which is the only damage to the car. State farm was the seller.
Degraded Takata inflator. Not joking. 
I like this thread.
I hope that fine array of bumper/rear window stickers will be staying.
The white exterior will better lend itself to a Martini livery.
Inspiration
I have something in mind already 
Van was delivered this morning. Paint needs to be buffed but overall it is very presentable and appears to be all original. Interior is in decent shape and will clean up nicely, especially once I work my magic .
Battery was completely dead so I threw in a good one that I had laying around. The van fired right up and ran smoothly. It looks like someone recently replaced the belts and the valve cover has a new gasket. (Recent timing belt?) It drove smoothly and shifted well, but has a terrible exhaust rattle. The suspension is completely shot and it wallows around like a whale. There is no way I would drive it in anger in its current state let alone autocross it. The brakes worked well and with some decent pads should be sufficient. All of the windows, sunroof and A/C work as they should.
Overall it is better then I was hoping for. I will get some pictures shortly...
Sounds like a great purchase. I always liked those vans.
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