Too bad the electrical sacrifice system did not do all that well. I have often wondered what results would be of placing a few sacrificial anodes around the chassis.

Well bonded electrically to the parent metal certainly would not hurt anything I imagine. Normal low carbon steel will always seek a path back to its iron oxide origins. You have to block oxygen access. My guess is that in the process of rusting once started may also generate some level of oxygen in the process as well.. Just less unless moisture is trapped as well. That is why petroleum products cannot stop rusting totally once established. Instead just slow it down to an almost inconsequential rate if coverage remains good.