I bought these 57 chevy aluminum panels new in 2021, finally getting around to installing them soon. Blistering clearcoat, I was able to chip a piece off with a razor blade. I guess I could mask off the ribbed areas and either try a solvent or scuff.... With aluminum I'm not sure if chemicals to remove the blistered areas would be a good idea. I do not want to re-clearcoat, a good aluminum polish is good for me.
Hmmm. Polishing won't help in my opinion. If they did that in a few years of being stored indoors, i can imagine what they will look like after being exposed to UV and weather. I'd fix them proper, remove the clear coat, polish and reapply. I know that is not what you wanted to hear but if it was my car that is how I would proceed.
I wouldn’t be afraid of using chemicals like paint remover as far as hurting the aluminum, but with as dumbed down as paint remover is, not sure it would even work. But, I would agree with @Bandit Billy that I would strip and re-clear most likely. My guess is that the clear that was used on those was about as cheap of stuff as could be found. And, if you didn’t want to re-clear, you may just have to polish every so often.
Clearcoats don't work all that well on polished aluminum. Not enough 'surface tooth' for the coating to stick well. The OEM pieces were anodized, an electro-chemical process that actually changes the metal surface and will be more durable. It's also more expensive that painting/coating... You'll see clear powder coat on aluminum wheels, but only on machined wheels. Those have enough 'tooth' for good adhesion. Virtually all of the aluminum exterior trim used by Detroit was anodized from the factory.
My guess is that you won't be driving this car in the snow and salty roads polish it out and call it good.
Anything caustic (oven cleaner, etc), will etch into the aluminium surface and make it look like ****. I would try just normal thinners (on the back first if there is some clear there), then if that works, remove the clear and apply a good aluminium polish once in a while. Bare aluminium oxidises quickly, so a thin layer of polish keeps the air away and gives it a bit of "shine".
I would try 2000 grit on a 3" or 2" sanding discs on a firm foam backer and angle air grinder. Maybe even 3000 grit, whatever grit that will remove the clear while leaving a semi polished surface. Then take it to 5000 and use a Dremel to polish. These are cheap and on Amazon. You can use a drill but air grinder is higher RPM and easier to use. I'd go as far as 600 if it is stubborn and work my way back to 5000 before polishing. Mask off the painted area.
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