How are you restoring hardware, springs, hinges etc

[bubbasimms]

I have posted this before looking for ideas on protecting hardware and misc parts, things you don't really want to paint, parts that wear and move. Things like hood hinges, acc brackets, door strikers and striker plates, springs, linkage rods etc. I'm not asking about cleaning the parts. I too do the usual, degrease, wire wheel, media blast etc. What are some options, besides paint, for coating these parts? I have done some phosphate coating and some manganese phosphate coating and oiling with decent results. I'm wondering how this will protect and last in a driver. I'm thinking zinc phosphate for the light colored items and manganese phosphate for the darker stuff. does anyone have any tips, tricks or ideas? Paint on these parts looks like poo almost immediately.