[javadog]

A couple suggestions.

Skip the repainting. It will end up looking just like that, again. It should be made of thick enough metal that it will outlast you.

I have something similar and I'll burn wood down to coals in another grille, like a Weber, and add those to the fire box instead. Burning the wood itself in the firebox makes too much smoke for something like a pork shoulder, which will take 8-12 hours to smoke. Ribs are much quicker. I tend to buy a lot of meat and fill the thing up, every time I use mine. The smoke is there, might as well use it. You can smoke anything. Chicken, sausage, bologna, pork tenderloins, etc.

You might skip the dry rub and barbecue the old way, with a vinegar-based mop sauce. Google will get you a recipe.

JR