My 86' brat has a ea81 in it, was this put in it after market? shouldn't it have a ea82?

all gen 2 brats have EA81

except turbo

All 82 - 87 Brats (Gen 2) have the EA81 - the Turbo model (83/84) has the EA81T.

 

81 GL (Gen 1) Brats also have the EA81, 81 DL's were still the EA71.

 

GD

So would it be a clean swap to stick a ea82t in it?

No. The Brat is an EA81 body, so it's going to be just as hard as any other EA81 body car. Exhaust (engine cross-member) and wireing mostly - have to move the hill-holder, etc, etc, etc. Cleaner and more power to swap an EJ22. This has all been covered - use the search.

 

GD