Order in my book for durability
E-coat
plating
Powder coat
zinc-coat
2K paints
Single stage enamels
Easy of application
Paint out of a can - runs require sanding if you want it to look perfect. Factory had runs at time
2K paint, need respirator, cleanup a bit worse, or you toss the gun making it easier.
zinc-coating via paint
Powder-coating
plating or e-coat
Issues in order of east to hardest
Paint out of a can
Paint out of a gun
Powder coating - issues are thickness in screw holes, and machined match surfaces. Good masking solves that. Or running a tap back through it to clean offending threaded areas. I do that anyway.
E-coating, can be painted over
Plating or Zinc brushed on stuff. Hard to keep paint stuck on, unless allied correctly and prepped correctly.
Real question is what is the goal, Restoration or history correct or the best longest lasting finish.
If your wanting the sub metal to last for every, you need to coat both sides. Zinc will make the longest lasting coating for protection. As the zinc becomes the sacrificial metal to keep the nasties that make Iron transition to oxide happen.
Oh we left out fabrication of new parts using metals or other products that do not have oxidation issues as extreme as steel. So you could start making suspension bits out of SS, or Carbon, Kevlar, or combinations and mixed metal substrates using fusion welding techniques