[Christ]

Bench versus bucket will be a comfort issue more than anything... The pair of buckets will be close to the same weight as the benches.

Instead of the under drive pulley, which won't help as much as it hurts, remove the power steering pump and belt, a/c pump, and install an ice tray in the cowl where your air comes in. Every stop, check your ice level and replenish as necessary.

You get added weight reduction from the removal of parts and pieces, less resistance to airflow through the radiator bc the ac condenser is gone, less parasitic drag on the engine via belt drives.

In addition to grille blocking, put spats behind the core support so that airflow that does make it through the grille block can't go anywhere but through the radiator.