Since I'm old enough to remember the Jimmy Carter years, I've got lots of experience trying to squeeze more gas mileage out of vehicles. The trick back then was to disable half the cylinders of a V-8 to make it run on 4 cylinders. There were several methods, most of them involving removing intake valve pushrods and locking the lifters in place above the cam lobes to avoid losing oil pressure. Then the exhaust valves were removed entirely on the disabled cylinders.
I also did the "Mother Earth News" alcohol still thing. It's stinky, messy, ineffecient, and all the neighbors want you to run off a little for personal consumption. They even offer to push the car for you, if you'll just go into the moonshine business!
Jerry
