[Deputy J]

Thanks for your comments everyone!

I went ahead and called Klose and talked with Carol. According to her, I don't really have too much to worry about with putting a new plate on top and it should probably help prevent too much more rust out. She seems to think that the space between the two plates will be so small that it shouldn't provide much area for moisture to get into and rust out, assuming that I have a full weld done.

That answer seems a little easy. Assuming that it's clean and dry going in, and that it's sealed up with full welds, is there something else that could cause the rust/oxidation that would eat up my pit? I'm thinking of what Zak and BuffettFan said.

Thanks!