Does anyone know if the carb from a late model (1980) ea71 will work on an earlier (1976) ea71? It seems like it should work, but I need some expert advice before I get in over my head. Thanks in advance!!!

It will work if the bolt patterns line up. It also depends if you want to strip emmissions or not. It also depends if you are talking about a hitachi or carter/weber or something else. Lots of different things make a difference.

 

I started with a hitachi on my EA71 (new carb). I couldn't figure out where all of the vac lines went, because it was from a different year with different emmissions. It did bolt up to the intake manifold flange. I think that all Hitachi's built for an EA71 (any year) will fit. I plugged all vac lines to the carb, and all lines to the intake manifold and ripped all of that emmissions crap out. It did run well, but was very hard to start. The hitachi is junk thaough if you ask me.

 

I replaced the carb recently with a 1966 chevy carb, manual choke. The engine is easy to start and runs great. It took some modification to the intake manifold (cutting and welding etc) to get the carb to fit properly.

 

Some guys use the weber with an adapter plate. It's a simple carb that bolts right up, but will cost you around $350. Google redline weber.

 

The truth is that any simple carb will work as long as you can tune it right. I would not be going with a 4 barrel pulling 500cfm though. You want to be around 150 to 175 cfm for an EA71 I think.

 

Hope this was helpful.

Yes this does help a bit.. the reason i am wondering is because I have a 1980 ea71 wagon that runs good, but it has a rod knock.. and will not pass emissions. I found a 76 wagon on CL that just needs the carb rebuilt or swapped out. As far as I can tell, the carb on my 80 wagon is in good working order. So I shall ask what kind of carb is on his car and I will plan accordingly. Thanks for the info!