Is there any difference in the EA 71 block. I have 2 with the engine stamping EA 71 on the drivers side of the engine and one with it on the front. Why is this? If there is a difference can things like heads be interchanged between the 2 different blocks?

Different piping.And the newer style is a wider case.

When I get some coffee in me I'll be able to fill in more detail,but you can use either.Just need to transfer air injection pipe fitting....and some small details.

One with EA71 on the driverside is the older gen1 engine.

EA81 stamped up front next to the distributor is the later model engine used from 80-87. Other than some of the emissions stuff, I believe you can interchange them. With respect to the water pump and crossover tube of course.

 

I believe later EA71s had larger bearing journals, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

-Mike

Ok then which motor is the better one to go with? Can the heads be swapped straight across if I need to go that route? Also will either engine mount up to the tranny in my Brat?

what year's your brat? if you've got the top-mount starter you'll need to use the older style engine. that's been my experience so far.....

 

-mike

All 3 engines are out of 78's and they all have the top mounted starter.

your thoughts are right. the engine will bolt right up. and the heads are interchangeable. (im working with EA71 EA81 and EA82 engines daily right now)

....but,if you use two different style cases you're going to run into needing to swap the air piping or at least the fittings for them.

 

I'm pretty sure the change was in mid-'78.They went to a wider case with an in-block water exchange.

 

How does the water passage look on all three engines?Are they the same?I'm guessing they're not.

i've got 2 80 wagons with the "narrow" case ea-71, ran into that trying to do a tranny swap in ru4x4evers old car

 

-mike

that is very true. my 79 will smoke the tires all day but will only go 90 mph. as for the 81 it bogs but is alot faster. (not for long:lol: im moddin the carb)

 

now the 79 is gonna be a big 4x4 independant suspention go cart with a 4 speed tranny. (after the rebuild that is:-\ )

Yeah my buddy's ea71 has a deeper sound.. he hasnt put a weber on it yet, the only carb mod he did, was mess with the secondary so it opens at about 1/4 throttle. And with the cherrybomb it sounds pretty deep like some good power.. and Theres no emissions

omg i put a cerry bomb on mine too. and it sounds great. (i love the crackle or the crack and the peak of the rev. it sounds so mean) i did the same to my carb and i also ajust the hp jet.

for sure. I like the ea71, but there so hard to find.. Im going to stick to the ea81.. I might buy the borla muffler and throw it on mine.. Order from jegs, they have a pretty good selection for performance mufflers

im stickin with the 81 too. im in the middle of a swap. i pulled my 79 and am droppin in the 81 engine tranny and cross member. then this summer some an EJ25TT the best engine a gen 1 would ever see. but first the 81 gets bolted up...

on ebay there selling some ej20tt for like 1000$ that would be so fun in a hatch. with no windown or interior, stript to thebone.. Some serious Speed.... ej25tt is a monster too:burnout: hell yeah

u have good taste my friend, my need for speed is far much greater. i want a EJ25TT 600 horses

:burnout:

:burnout:

I'm pretty sure the change was in mid-'78.They went to a wider case with an in-block water exchange.

 

This change includes the switch from the driver's-side EA71 casting to the front EA71 casting? Because my 79 has EA71 cast on the driver's side.

Ok maybe one of you can answer this then. Electronic distributors came out in the middle of the 78 model year if I understand right? So points type distributors would be in the engines with the casting on the side right? Both of my engines that have the casting on the side have electronic ignition, with a electric pick up rather than points but the engine with the casting on the front has a points type distributor. Wouldn't the electronc distributors make these the later monel engine?

Electronic Ignition was an option back in 78 & 79. The book says california models came with it, but the only early ea71 I ever got with electronic ignition came from another state. Starting in 1980 with the fat case engine, I am pretty sure 90% came with electronic, even though points were still available thru 82 even on the ea81 engines.

 

-Mike

theres an air craft company here that makes new stuff for ya ea81 engines. in fact i heard that they goin 2 have 2 cast new blocks and stuff coz they used most of the blocks that are left and having difficulty trying to pick them up now.