Jules, that last picture p.2 ... what's the horizontal strap do, the one screwed into the top of the bowl?
Also, you mentioned cutting and drilling. You're using new stock for the strap, or reworking Weber's taco strap?
The horizontal strap (elliptical plate), was placed there to cover up holes that was created by a rusted out handle strap welds. When i got the grill (N code ssp), one side of the handle was rusted through the lid and fully detached. Other side was basically the same. I'm not a welder so the plates (there's a rectangular plate inside the lid also), was my solution to conceal the holes and rust on the adjacent areas. By the way this is the first used grill that i picked up, which coincidentally made me join wkc. Got it free to boot. The rest of the lid, bowl and frame are in great shape.
Ok I think i might have misunderstood you on the horizontal bar. The horizontal bar on the green bowl is used to cover up the the chopped off bowl handle. That bowl was originally an okp.
Also, the strap was reused. It has to be shortened by at least 1" so therefore new holes must be drilled also.