check out this website:
http://www.ibiblio.org/lineback/lex.htm
it's the bomb for all things bbq.... brisket, pulled pork, etc.
it's all about the smoke, ratman. you can build a pit or smoker yourself to keep your fire out away from the meat and keep it smokin. check out this vertical smoker made out of a file cabinet. (
http://www.ibiblio.org/lineback/bbq/troy.htm) I've used 55 gallon drums plenty of times and also built a smoker out of an old refrigerator.
You might also check out the smoke ring (
http://www.smokering.net/pits/brickpit/default.jsp).