Dave, The charcoal grate is in tough shape, but probably would hold briquettes OK and the ash pan is pretty bent up, but I could probably cook something on it as it sits. I probably wont do anything with it until this spring and then maybe I will cook on it. But, if I find a need for parts before then, it will get parted. But, then, the only way that happens is if I have another coal burner to fix up which means I still have a coal burner. Anyway, I have grilled on coal before....but not for many, many years. What I remember most is spraying a bunch of lighter fluid on the coals to get the coals going. Then having to wait so long for the coals to get nice and hot and evenly burning and to get the lighter fluid taste burned out of them. Then comes the problem when done and having to deal with a kettle full of hot coals and worrying about on the deck or having a kid touch it or whatever. Just too much hassle for my taste to do on a regular basis.
I think maybe the pellet grills will start to cut into the use of coal burners for those reasons.