New Vertical Build

OK so a little over a year ago I picked up a 60 gallon air compressor tank with the intention of making a new smoker after my Modified COS crapped out on me (rusted literally to pieces). This tank is 48"x20" and heavy as crap! This is not a new tank, its probably 40-50 years old and the walls are 3/16" thick. My original plan was to make a reverse flow on a small trailer, but after some heavy research and lack of $$$ I formally decided on a vertical UDS/WSM/VCS combo with direct heat system and a diffuser plate and water pan. The tank is currently oriented horizontally but after some thinking about it, I will be mounting the tank onto a steel wheel rim to mount vertical. I will beginning to acquire materials next month. This will be a multi-stage project. Stage one, will be to make a functional cooker, stage two will be to make additions (work tables, meet hooks, etc.), third stage will be to increase versatility/mobility (removable propane burner, wheels, etc.)

Here is an elevation drawing of my initial plans, a picture of the harrow disk I am looking at for my diffuser plate, and my biggest inspiration for this build. This project is based in large part by other builds/cookers posted on this and other BBQ sites.

All comments and suggestions welcome

Smitty, I have been pouring over every piece of the BoomShuckaLucka build for almost a year; it's a great build! I didn't make it clear in the drawings but right now I am planning to have 4 1.25" ball valves but the intake system is completely flexible.

Also, I just noticed that you are in Burleson, PM me! I am just up the road in Arlington and would love to come take a look at your smoker if you were willing.

Thank you sincerely! I may take you up on that cause I will need some steel rolled and I can't do it myself. do you charge labor or just reimbursement for materials? When I come up with a final materials list/budget I will happily let you know, and you may have just given me an excuse to go up to the bash. And maybe, if I'm feeling fun and fancy-free, I will bring the boat I built a couple years ago...you know...since it is on a lake lol

OK so I put together a materials list while I was hardly working today at work and after doing a retail price check on the steel cost alone, for all 3 phases of this project, I literally felt my heart sinking and my wallet crying. If I can't find a way to curtail the cost of this project I will be dead in the water (and I mean that literally...If I spend $350 on steel my wife will kill me and dump my body in the river ). Any recommendations for finding cheaper steel are appreciated and might just be life saving. I'm going to go check a local scrap yard this weekend that sells by the pound and will report my findings.