Thanks for the information and advice, now that I have a idea of what is going on, I can start trying some of the "cures" that have been suggested.
First I"ll try the drip pan, and if that doesn't fix it, I'll wrap the butts and use a drip pan at the same time.
If that don't work, been thinking about using half a load of charcoal and taking the lid off, kinda like having a pig in the ground the way We used to do it. Just half to keep
adding charcoal to keep the temps up.
If all else fails, I'll put an old tobacco barn burner in the bottom of the pit barrel and see what happens.
And if that don't work, I'll put three butts on the old gas grille and use the PBC for ribs.
thanks
don