restoring shocks on a 74 Z1 900

I have a set of factory shocks for my bike but the springs are all rusty. I cannot afford to buy new ones right now but plan on doing it later. What do you guys think about me sanding them down real good and painting them to match the frame? (Gloss black) I have no idea how this will turn out if I do it. Thanks, Joe.

I have always taken a scotchbrite pad on a wheel (or a brass wire wheel) and put it in a drill to get the rust off the springs. Then you can polish them up with your favortie metal polish. You'll be surprised how good they look.

i had some buddies (brothers)that had taken their shocks apart and painted the springs and they looked good.fixin to do the same to mine.i want to paint my old shocks so i can just wash and forget them.
here they are right now,rust and grunge.

Well, I tried to polish them but they were too far gone
(the springs anyway. So I taped them up and painted the springs
red to match the bike. So what do you guys think?

Now all I need to do is get the proper handle bars, and redo the
original guages. When I took it up the road it felt sooooo much
better riding it. The only problems I have now is the oil leak
that is getting on my shoe on the left, and figure out why there
is so much vibration at the handle bars. I am thinking about
getting the engine and body panels and tank repainted to make it
look a lot better.