Gas price going up // Rethinking the new project car

Gas price exploded in canada since october , we pay 1.68 $ @ litre of gas ...i dont mind the duster and its gas consumption for fun summer days once in a while...but my new toy , 69 ratty valiant makes my mind go in all directions , goals are weird...* Have a ratty looking car with patina and old funny notlagia look ( 1970s -hippie style ) little lumpy cam , black steel wheels , light body and components but...i wanted a sleeper an ugly rocket ahahahah but with the prices so high im telling myself that maybe my stockish 360 with 350hp ( xe268 cam ) with a 904 reverse valve body ( 2 200 stall ) and highway gears could be the way . Theres the a833od that is still available too, but the car was born : 273 2bbl and 904 , i wanted to keep the look too , all kinds of ideas passed by with a 3.9 magnun v6 swap even a srt4 4cyl swap..but even then doing all the work and $$$ modification will be tricky , i tought about buying a cheap 318 and sleeve it for 273 pistons but even there it will be $$$$. So 360 / 904 /2.xx gears and 20 mpg ? With a 2 500 pound valiant ? Your toughts !