MCMPool

Bought a home built in ‘54 with an inground pool. Prior owners converted to salt water before we bought the home. Pool and liner are in great shape except for the steel coping. We have ground it, rust oleum and painted the past several years but it is now rusting through. How do we replace the coping? Pool companies here say they have never seen this coping and recommend replacing the whole thing. Any ideas? We do not want to replace the pool, we would prefer to fix ourselves as we have a limited budget but are not above hiring someone to help in rural NC.