What is the diameter of the fresh air cowl vent opening?

Finally got inside the air cowling. Lots of holes in the low areas and the 2" lip inside the opening is toast. I've never done rust restoration before, so here goes; Thought I would use POR-15 patch and cloth mesh to patch the holes and get a couple top hats fab'd up like the cardboard mock-up below. Not sure how to attach the top hat to the cowl or how to coat as much inside the cowl as I can. Slather a brush around or pour the chemicals through the air intake and let it drain out the exit holes?1.jpg 2.jpg 4.jpg