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Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Apr 19 2017, 05:57 PM

One of our members sent me his engine bay sticker. Notice that it is for an EA code engine (1.7L 49-state), yet in the lower text it also says it conforms to CA-emissions. He confirms that he also has a COA that indicates his EA-code engine is original to his car, which was purchased in Ohio.

EA code engines are supposed to be 49-state engines and have an 80HP rating
EB code engines are supposed to be for CA-only engines and have a 72HP rating
Other factory literature confirms this.

Was there no EB code label for a 1973 1.7L California model? If you have one can you post it here?






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 1973_1.7L.pdf ( 50.43k ) Number of downloads: 37

Posted by: McMark Apr 19 2017, 07:27 PM

I think it's really funny that there a possibility that this happened:

Worker: "Hey Boss, are you gonna make a sticker for these EB engine cars?"
Boss: "Nah, just use the EA code sticker. Like anyone is going to look that closely."

And then here we are 40 years later...


Don't have a picture, so this is just a free

Posted by: 914Sixer Apr 19 2017, 08:45 PM

Maybe some more of use what you have !

Posted by: Dave_Darling Apr 19 2017, 09:40 PM

My understanding (and it has been long enough that I don't remember where I got this info from) was that the EB code was specifically only for 1973 1.7s, so an earlier 1.7 EA (or W) would indeed be CA compliant.

--DD

Posted by: 914_teener Apr 19 2017, 11:05 PM

So are ya sayin Mark that it morphed from stickers to software?

Posted by: Mikey914 Apr 19 2017, 11:20 PM

Slippery slope .... we at least it took awhile.

Posted by: BillC Apr 20 2017, 05:57 AM

I can confirm that the car in question is a 1973 1.7. And that it has the EA engine code stamped on the block.

The sticker says it's an EA code and that it complies with EPA and California emissions requirements. Maybe VW had been planning to bring out the EB engine for the '73 model year for CA, but then discovered in last-minute testing that the EA engine met both sets of requirements and didn't bother with the EB until later.

Are there any recorded EB engines for the '73 model year? Or did they come out later?