it looks great!
Here is my opinion of what has been discussed so far:
I would recommend *not* thinking about a new engine right now, not yet, because of the first word in this thread:
Setimental.
IMO, the engine is an important part of the original machine, IMO chucking on a cheap junky predator engine just destroys the originality of the machine, and greatly cheapens the machine overall. and, IMO, most of the time it's unnecessary, and IMO..often just lazy.
and..the original engine is usually waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy better quality and better-built that the cheap Harbor Freight predator engines.
IMO, the only reason to use a predator is if the original engine is actually, literally beyond repair. and, you also actually *need* to use this specific machine.
For me, if the engine was actually beyond my personal ability to fix (for now), and if this was my Grandfather's snowblower, I would rather just keep, stored in the garage or shed, and not use it..keep it complete..and maybe someday find a replacement engine of the same model and era.
or maybe learn the skills to fix it myself, 5 or 10 years down the road..
that would be so much *better* than putting a Predator engine on it..IMO.
IMO, putting a Predator engine on one of these vintage machines is like putting a Chinese engine from Walmart in your grandfathers 1965 Mustang.
its just wrong on so many levels..
(yes I know, you cant actually buy a cheap Chinese automobile engine at Walmart..not yet!
im sure they are working on it though.)
but the original engine is probaly fine!
it probably just needs an oil change, fuel system clean, and probably a carb clean.
none of which is particularily difficult.
odds are good you can get it to run!
To me, this would be a case where your Grandfathers snowblower could be your "second" snowblower!
and your main snowblower is something much newer and much more utilitarian..and not at all sentimental.
If this is actually your very first snowblower, and if for some reason it cant be made to run reliably right now..make it your second snowblower!
work on it whenever you can, in the summer! because you dont need to rely on it to actually clear your driveway.
and keep it complete and original, just like it was when your Grandfather was using it.. It can be a sentimental timecapsule.
(which i think is the best thing to do with it, running or not)
if it doesnt run..meh..not a big deal, because you dont need it to run right now!
just keep as-is it for now.. and a new snowblower collector is born.
welcome!
Scot