This grill is a 2000 platinum B. Please see my other post for info. You are right about the firebox being painted. I understand some people are completely against it and I understand their concerns. As for cleaning them. I scrape the firebox and inside lids as much as possible with a metal scraper, then use oven cleaner and a degreaser from dollar general. Called awesome cleaner. After it is pressure washed, I remove the lid
disassemble the lid and set aside. The fire box is scrapped again, and the process is started over till the grease and grime is removed. Then I do use a wire wheel on my drill to remove as much as I can without chewing to much into the metal. I use 3 coats of High heat grill paint. As for the lid, i spray with the degreaser and use a razor blade to scrape it down to the shiny porcelain original. Pressure wash, clean again with degreaser and blue scrubby pads and then reassemble. All parts are original weber parts, I 2 burns before put grates and flavor bars. Both last an hour, sometimes longer if I forget with a couple hour break between the 2. Sorry for so long.