I used a can of Easy-Off oven cleaner (or try the gel type paint stripper). I've got a '96 and the finish isn't that great no matter how much I polish. I believe it's cast (like the rims), not forged like the rims on the '97 and up. To see if it has a clear coat, get some aluminum polish and try to polish it first. If it turns black, it doesn't have the clear coat. If it does, you have to strip it first.