This is a 1st generation RA1 Honda Odyssey – radicalized. And here’s the thing about a modified minivan like this. Beneath the sheet metal and all the oddball awesomeness – it’s a totally epic conversation starter. An ‘icebreaker’ anywhere it travels. See, this Honda Odyssey transcends automotive genres, subcultures, income levels, age gaps, & all that nonsense… because everyone loves a bitchin’ van. We’ve all thought about building one at least a dozen times lol. And everyone loves that surge of energy that comes with the idea of scoring a marketplace steal on an untrendy/forgotten vehicle. It’s a low price-point of entry on a project car that’s genuinely FUN, carefree, and not oversaturated. 

With a minivan like this…

There’s no ‘dress code’ you have to adhere to. You’re not influenced or regulated by snobby/elitist/entitled fun-suckers. There’s no boundaries, and no rules to what you can/can’t do. It’s pure fun & customizing freedom. And the cherry on top – is the added benefit of usability & functionality! At the end of the day, it’s equal parts radical, ridiculous, brilliant, and functional. People will climb over the latest & greatest supercar to check out this 30-year-old Honda Odyssey minivan. 

Dennis Duff, how can I describe him??

I mean… he’s basically the human version of his van lol. He’s from Chicago. Like, really from Chicago… fast accent & all. He runs with the Gridlife & Ramblers boys, and loves tricked-out Hondas (like his EF named Ugly Ed), minibikes, grungy/greasy stuff… you get the gist. For a living, Dennis does paintless dent removal (PDR). He does it independently, and has developed a generally high-end clientele of enthusiast-based customers. In other words… he’s not really at dealerships doing repetition trade-in work. But more often at private residences doing higher-end vehicles. 

And this RA1 Honda Odyssey…

Is the perfect company work-truck/van. It intersects where interesting meets custom, and custom meets functional. And as mentioned – it’s the perfect icebreaker. Anyone could roll up to a job in a Ford Transit Connect or similar, and there would be no conversation about it. But when Dennis rolls up in a brappy, slammed, manual-transmission, k-swapped Honda Odyssey minivan… there are questions lol. Like I mentioned earlier… even from the guys with supercars in their garages. It breaks the initial awkwardness & forms common ground. The first question is almost always,

“Whatcha got done to that thing?”

The engine is a Honda K24Z3…

Commonly swapped from something like an 09-14 Acura TSX, or roughly the same year Accord. It’s mated to a GearX 5-speed Accord transmission with LSD, and communicates through a Haltech ECU & dash display. The engine used to be turbocharged, but it was creating too many reliability issues. And an NA k-swap is plenty fun & potent (and strong/solid)… without going too far overboard and losing the mission. 

If you want a solidly-swapped Honda with a great ownership experience, the common wisdom is: Swap the engine and add fun bolt-ons (like this BohlenMetalWorks custom intake). But keep it internally unmolested. That way you get to keep the Honda reliability… but get all the fun & potency of a swapped vtec engine. It’s a sweet spot…. that many of us ignore lol. 

The RA1 Odyssey chassis… 

Overall, the 1st-generation RA1 Honda Odyssey is just a ‘90s Honda Accord in a bigger box. So focus on suspension & brakes, and you can get the RA1 Odyssey pretty tight, especially for a minivan. On the front, Dennis is running BC Racing DS coilovers with Vera bags. It’s a bag-on-coil setup. Vera is a sub-brand of BC, so you essentially just remove the coil from the BC coilovers, and slip-on the Vera bag. Viola! He also runs PCI upper control arms. 

In the rear, the RA1 Odyssey is designed a bit differently than the Accord, but it’s still an independent rear suspension. Luckily, HotSpotFab makes a kit for the rear of the RA1 Odyssey that comes with bags, struts, and rear control arms. HotSpotFab’s kit also moves the rear struts inward, so you can add wider wheels. The suspension on this Odyssey is controlled with Airlift 3H management. And the bag setup gives Dennis the versatility to load all his PDR tools in the back, while having the suspension automatically adjust & compensate for the added weight (~500lbs worth). All-in for the Honda Odyssey’s suspension, Dennis has spent about $3,500, and absolutely loves the way it drives, responds, works, & performs. 

 

Brakes & Wheels…

The brakes on this 1st-generation Honda Odyssey have been upgraded front & rear. The rear is basically just an upgraded/refreshed stock setup, but with better pads, rotors, & stainless lines. The front brakes on the Odyssey, however, have been upgraded with a FatFourCustoms big brake kit, which includes Brembo/Porsche 4-piston calipers & Nissan 350Z rotors (and stainless lines). Wheels are a set of Rays/Volk Fortesst Touring Evolution (forged wheels), sized in 17×9 +22. These are the predecessor to the iconic TE37. 

Honda Odyssey interior treatment…

Inside the Honda Odyssey, Back Recaros set the tone. In fact, most of the interior was converted from typical Honda gray/blue, to black. A Flock It kit was used on the dash. And neoprene (wet suit material) was used to recover the upper door panels for water & dog-slobber resistance. New black carpet was used elsewhere to restore/convert other applicable areas. There is a custom-built tool-wall that swings up into a shelf. The rear seats have been removed & replaced with bike mounts, on-board air, camping equipment, etc. Dennis is able to strap a minibike inside the Odyssey, while carrying his Honda Elite 50 on a hitch-hauler out back. There is ceramic window tint all around, and the interior has been sound-deadened throughout. 

When it comes to the RA1 Honda Odyssey exterior… 

As with most golden-era Hondas… less is kinda more. And simplicity is kinda key, as these golden-era Hondas just don’t take much to come alive. Dennis made a front air-dam & bumper to replicate the style of a BTCC Accord. He also made PCI-style side skirts… because PCI doesn’t make anything this long lol. Dennis also has switchback headlights that go from white-to-yellow. But other than that (and the wheels + tint), the exterior is pretty simply-seasoned overall. 

Simplicity creates a great canvas… 

And not only does it create a great blank canvas, but it creates longevity, adaptability, versatility, expression, etc. We see this winning formula in old VW busses, bugs, & Porsches as well. And look at the history of culture surrounding those vehicles. 

To create simplicity, and to be able to do it with style & cleverness… that’s what made the golden-era of Honda so golden. It’s what makes their engines so well-engineered AND easily interchangeable. These are all underlying key-components to why golden-era Hondas continue to stand the test of time. From the hatchbacks that we all know & love… even to the oddballs like this RA1 Odyssey. 

Photos by Chris Sullivan

(with some additional phone pics by Dennis Duff)

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