I've stumbled across an early EA81 4WD wagon. I know its an 80 or an 81, but since I don't have the VIN in front of me, I can't decode it. What are some things I can look for to tell the difference between the two years?

every 1980 4WD Wagon I've seen have had ea71's. Even the GL's (I have one). and the Dual Range wasn't introduced until '81.

 

(but it could have been swapped out...)

 

The turn signal marker light assemblies were "slightly" different, but not something you could tell unless you are standing right in front of the lights

 

if it's a GL, it would have the centerlamp. the centerlamp door could either have a blue logo, or a black logo, but haven't been able to tell a pattern for how you got which one... (year, models, etc...)

 

can't think of anything else off-hand, and my info provided was pretty much useless

Markings on the engine? If it wasn't swapped? I think on the heads it says

in 1980 the ONLY 1800 engines were mated to auttomatic trannies. so if it's an ea81 engine with a standard trans, it would have to be a 1981.

 

maybe that helps.