[flatheadfan]

I am not sure if this is what you are referring to but, during WWII when gasoline was highly rationed, the practice of "shimming" the fuel pump was somewhat common. In an effort to reduce fuel pump output and thereby limiting gasoline usage extra gaskets were paced between the fuel pump mounting stand and the intake manifold. This reduced the amount of fuel being sent from the fuel pump to the carburetor by reducing the effective push rod travel. Primitive, but it must have worked. I guess, in many respects this was a "backwoods governor." Times were tough......

Tom