Remove all transaction validation as well.  ECDSA signature validation is especially CPU heavy. 

However I wonder if this is an xy problem.  If this is just for an initial sync (i.e. one time) then it is far easier to transfer the blockchain as Pieter pointed out and run the stock client.  However if you intend to remain connected to the trusted node(s) (and no other untrusted nodes) then you might as well be running an SPV client/codebase to reduce the resource requirements on the target machine continually.  In essence the bitcoind on the remote computer is asking as an border router for your custom application/code.