any issues with this? they look pretty similar. are the barrels the same size are they all 28/30?

I had a 78 with an 82 carb on it, and it ran fine, so I don't think there are any real issues. You might consider swapping the jets from the EA71 carb into the EA81 carb. Depending on the EA71 you have, you might even be able to swap the whole manifold. The later EA71's (fat case, hydro lifters, EA81 bell-houseing) had the same manifold length as the EA81.

 

Oh - and you might need to use the throttle linkage from the EA71 carb too...

 

GD

yeah I just put a newer carb on my 78 Brat and the throttle linkage hit the intake manifold. Also the cable mounts differently but that should be fixed when you change the throttle linkage

as an owner of a late model ea71 (1989) I am wondering what ea81 manifold bolted to it...ea71 manifolds are shorter than ea81 manifolds lol what you might have been thinking is ea82 carbed/spfi and ea81 as they swap quite well and have been the basis of a couple spfi ea81 and a turbo spfi ea81...

 

now the late model (post 1985) ea71s may have had the same carb bolt pattern as ea81/82 carbs but I dunno for sure I'll find out soon enough when my 'new' ea82 engine replaces my good old ea71...

 

as for the jets I'd leave the ea81/2 jets in place...