I just wanted to provide some information regarding this subject. I was also at a local dealer to purchase and Ariens sno thro. The model I wanted was the 927LE. One place has the Tecumseh L-head engine and another dealer is getting a shipment next month with the B&S engine and the price was going up about $90.
I contacted Ariens customer service with these questions:
1. Which engine is "better" according to Ariens? Does Ariens recommend one over the other?
2. Why the switch?
3. What type of Briggs and Stratton engine will be used? Size? Power?
Here is the email reply I received this morning:
Ariens does not have preference for one engine or the other. Both are
comparable and will do the job. This is simply a matter of Supply and
Demand. Tecumseh cannot supply us with enough engines, and Briggs has an
engine that will fill the requirements. It is an Intek overhead valve
engine with the Snow Max package, and is 305cc. This is a "high end"
engine. Power would be very similar to the Tecumseh engine originally
used.
Thank you for contacting us.
I sent a follow up message asking what the torque for this engine was and here is the reply:
It is the 13.50 gross torque engine.
I'm not much for engines, but from I found online the general consensus is the B&S run quieter and use less gas than the Tec. L-head engine. The dealer getting the B&S equiped engines told me the B&S is a better engine and that is why the price is increasing. The said there is a higher price point with the B&S engine. I'm not sure I believe that, but since they off better financing options (no hidden fees) I'm going with the B&S engine. Not sure if I'm making the right decision. 
