Thanks you guys. I got the first leg of my project started tonight, here's what and how I did it:
1.) Using a 3M scuff pad(kinda like the scrubber on the backside of a sponge) I scrubbed the whole rim to remove all the caked on brake dust, dirt, mud and other crap that was on the rims(especially the inside ) This was done w/water only.

2.) After rinsing the rims off to reveal the beautiful shine of the clear coat, I wet-sanded the front side of the rims down using 3M 320 grit sandpaper.

3.) After sanding down all the rims, I then washed them w/dish detergent to remove any leftover grease/oil/or any other stuff that would affect the finish or inhibit the primer from sticking nicely.

I stopped here for tonight. Tomorrow I plan on primering the front and back side of the rims using Plasti-Kote black primer. I will let them sit overnight and then inspect them the next day for any flaws in the primer(like spots where it isn't smooth, any nicks or dings I didn't get out when sanding, stuff like that.) If all is fine, I will apply another coat of primer, let dry overnight, then wet-sand them again, this time using 600 grit wet sandpaper to ensure a good, uniform color coat and adhesion. I will wetsand when necessary(drips,dust particles, spotty adhesion) but if not needed, I will just apply 4-5 light coats of paint(Import Color "Graphite Grey") to the face of the rims, leaving the back primered black. After that is done I will apply a good 3-5 coats of clear and let sit until the weekend when I will hopefully be able to install my springs and my freshly painted EX alloys.