Rob C, I agree with what you are saying. Attention to details can go a long way. Good carb tune, a good exhaust, and definitely working with the ignition timing, mechanical and vacuum advances are a great start. If I were to end up with the car I hope to go look at, I might later on consider a MP stock copy aluminum intake and a 500 Edelbrock AVS, which have rather small primaries. Then with a reasonable rear gear and careful driving 20+ mpg seems likely, yet quite peppy when needed, or wanted, LOL