Check out System 6 Heaven for ideas. Start at:

http://www.euronet.nl/users/mvdk/Tips_and_tricks.html

Mountimage may work for 1.4MB images but it is a while since I last used it.

Running your System from a RAM disk may help to cut down on floppy drive shuffle. Also set up a shared network folder that contains your essential utilities. All you need then is a network boot disk, and all of your applications are available.