The Dynamat i put in really made a huge difference in the drivability of the Red Brick. It was worth the extra weight in my opinion. The ride is very smooth and not harsh, which was surprising. I had a basically stock 89 Saleen Mustang that had a much harsher ride, but did not handle as well as the Brick. That car with fuel injection, some gears, and 5/6 speed would make for a really impressive all around car.
Ironically, I had Dynamat added in my car and I didn't notice much of a difference in noise or heat. The heat that's coming out of the trans tunnel is the worst on the freeway. But otherwise, my car is almost what you described.
