My take on affordable frame treatment goes like this.
No matter what you do, your springs will rust over time. You can spend a fortune sandblasting and powdercoating your frame, but your spring will still become orange pretty soon.
Degrease as best as you can, knock off loose rust, prime with Rusty Metal Primer, and paint with Rustoleum Semi-gloss Black. When the springs start to show rust, touch them up with the semi-gloss rattle can.
