Will the 1982 Brat manual transmission fit an EA71 engine? If so, will that combination work in a 1985 Brat? I am looking at buying the EA71 engine cheap to use while I rebuild the 1982's EA81 engine (so I can drive my Brat and overhaul at my leisure).

Only if the EA71 is a 2nd generation. These had the starter on the drivers side like the EA81. You'll be able to tell by the starter "hump" in the engine bellhousing. Center hump no go, side hump good to go!

Actually, the rear engine adapter can be interchanged between EA71's so it may be a go...? I installed a later style EA71 into my '79 Brat that originally had the early style center mount starter. I swapped the rear bellhousing adapter between the two, installed a new seal, and it worked out fine. I now have the center mount starter mated up to a later style EA71.

 

I have heard the bolt pattern to mount this adapter is different between the EA71 and EA81 though. I've not ever had the opportunity to confirm this myself but this could prove a problem.

 

Now that I think about it, I think Qman's saying if you use the later style EA71 and the later style tranny adapter...? In that case, I suppose the rear bolt pattern of the crankcase would be irrelevent as long as the later EA71 adapter with the side mount starter bolts up to your tranny as he suggests.

 

Let us know what you do. I've always been a bit curious about the interchangeability of these two engines too. I'd like to go the opposite way as you are. If possible, I'd like to drop an EA81 in place of my EA71 while leaving the single range tranny alone. From all I'd heard, it wasn't possible without great effort.

Thanks for the info. It is a later generation EA71 with the starter on the side, so I may do it. This is just a temporary idea, but I will follow up with the results if I do it.