I'd spray everything inside the CC with a coat of vegetable oil, fire it up and let it run @ 350 degrees or so for a few hours . Some guys throw a piece of fatty meat in there just for a little extra seasoning, after that you'll be ready for the real deal.
I'm having the same problem with my vertical build. I plan on wrapping a chain around the tank and putting a bar inside the door where it starts to bend out too far and hooking a come-along to it to get it to close more, then heat up the door to get the right contour i'm looking for. I'm planning on trying it out this weekend, I'll let you know how it goes.
It's much harder to do when you can't take the lid off. But, you can still use the chain and bottle jack trick. You will have to weld the chain inside the lid and put the jack between the lid and the chain, then shim it tight before you begin jacking.
Making memories.
Current Smokers: Backyard RF Offset and Hybrid RF Offset trailer rig with Cowboy cooker and fish fryer, always room for more........