Convert a gas grill to charcoal?

[scottlr]

The burners on our gas grill are dust. They don't make stainless steel ones for it, and I don't want to just end up with a pile of rust again. I think I want to go back to charcoal. The body of the grill is in fine condition, so I am thinking about converting it. So, if I remover the burners and controls, add a fire rack and make an adjustable vent, will it work right?

[xntrick]

yes indeed, our charcoal grill is very basic..luv that smokey goodness...

[Mark Robinson]

At Lowes or Osh, they sell a slightly scaled down, barrel on it's side, style charcoal fired grill for 100 bucks that has a nice feature where you can raise and lower the bed of coals height in relation to the grill height. The thing has an adjustable vent. I used one to cook a couple hundred hamburgers at a large soccer tournament last year and it performed flawlessly, for a hundred bucks.

[Mike Fleming]

It sounds like it will work fine. You know one thing about charcoal grills is they need to close pretty tightly in order to control the airflow via the vents; if the closure is too loose you will always run hot. I don't know if all gas grills close as tightly as charcoal grills. That's the only thing I can think of that could be a problem.

[scottlr]

It's a 3 burner Kenmore. I used to put wood chips in it just on the grill and the smoke didn't seem to leak badly, except at the holes where the rotisserie would go, which I might be able to use for a controlled venting system.

I'd rather convert it than get rid of it, since the burners are the only thing wrong with it.

[dkals]

Try hunting around for your solution/answers on these sites.

http://tvwbb.infopop.cc/eve
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/index.php
http://www.barbecuebible.com/board/

I think the second link will be the best chance for your answer.

[Mike Fleming]

yeah so you'll have bottom vents where the gas lines were i assume, and then the rotisserie holes for top vents? sounds like you might have something. i'd get a fire rack in there, get some coals going, and start plugging holes to see if you can control the temp.

[scottlr]

Try hunting around for your solution/answers on these sites.

http://tvwbb.infopop.cc/eve
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/index.php
http://www.barbecuebible.com/board/

I think the second link will be the best chance for your answer.

Thanks, I'll have a look.

yeah so you'll have bottom vents where the gas lines were i assume, and then the rotisserie holes for top vents? sounds like you might have something. i'd get a fire rack in there, get some coals going, and start plugging holes to see if you can control the temp.

Yea, what I'm thinking is some sort of vent plate that I can adjust as needed. And yes, I do need a fire rack.

[TehSuperFox]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9417/1190577026614w.jpg

[scottlr]

:roll