G'day,
I know the feeling! I too gain great satisfaction out of getting old engines running. Yesterday I found a early seventys 3.5 Briggs in a dumpster, of coarse I grabbed it. When I got it home and pulled the head off I found a completely reconditioned engine! 020 oversized and new valves! all it required was a flywheel key.
At rubbish collection time there is not a mower out for more than 5 minutes! I once dragged a vc victa 3 km home behind my push bike.
Anyway good luck with more hunting!
Regards Jay.
