Rust proof it to fook mate!!! make sure you killed everything off! then repair it and seal it then wax oil it! thats what i have done.
When i toke my interior out i had a 20p size bit of rust on my gearbox tunnel

so killed that of and sorted it! i couldnt see it from under neath because its double skin!
As for beam etc powder coating is the best! i would have done mine but i didnt have the cash at the time