You may have to look at it for a long time
Paint it what ever color you like ...... A pro can match it with a blend ... Unless you are foolish enough to try panel matching , on any color, better paint it black ...

By the way , whites are the easiest to match ,,,for me anyway ...

 

My interior is grey (best interior color imo) so it should go with a variety of different colors.

 

mine is too thats why i am going with this grey color the color is rustoleum smoke grey but i am sure i can get something real close in auto paint but i am not above painting my hunting rig with rustoleum just like this one

 

Black is the easiest color to match as black is black is black, unless you have some odd ball black like a black metalic or "firemist" as one mfg called their black w/ a red tinted clear coat (CaddY?). White can be a pain to match as there are yellow, red, green, and blue whites it depends on when the truck was painted (from the factory) during the production run of a color. That is why most AB shops need your build date and color code before ordering paint. Most if not all automotive paint suppliers now have a paint reader (like Home Depot or Lowes) for automotive paint so you can get a good match for panel repairs.
Having said all that and the fact that you are going for the second color change, and may want to DIY, I'd suggest you pick a solid (non-metalic) color preferably in a single stage (non clear coat) and apply an extra coat or two so you will have "room" to sand & buff out your mistakes (runs, drips, and orange peel).
When all is said & done it's still your truck that you have to live w/ & be happy about the color choice you made. So have fun practicing your new hobby by painting many things or other clunkers before you tackel your truck. Oh and your arms will get tired painting the whole thing at one time especially if it's your first vehicle, so start high & work towards the bottom breaking the truck into managable pieces. My $.02

 

this fella has been around a paint shop before very good answer gave ya some reps for providing accurate knowledgeable info

 

Thanks whack&stack. 20+ yrs from painters helper to wreck man before calling it quits & becoming a Mail Man. Just wasn't having fun anymore between customers trying to take money out of one pocket and the insurance companies trying to take it out of the other pocket.

 

Ill keep that in mind thanks, sure does sound like you know what you're talking bout. I don't know much cept that there's 2 stage paint and single stage, but what's the difference

 

Single stage doesn't need clear ...

 

single= no clear-coat, 2 stage= base coat then clear coat, tri-coat= base coat, mid-coat, clear-coat. ect...ect..., two stage is much more durable and less susceptible to fading, also has a deeper shine, but twice the work, .... and money.

 

Single stage , if done correctly with a quality product , is just as durable as a 2 stage & has been for years .. 2 Stage is less apt to fade when it has a lack of maintenance . If the clear used doesn't have sufficient UV protection , it can actually be worse (de lamination) ... Use a good product in any case ..


Paint suppliers will tell you "this" is the same but cheaper ,, but it cannot be cheaper & hold up the same ...


Clear is far cheaper than the color , that is the reason it is used in the first place

OE's use just enough color to hide , then clear , to save money ...



This is a 25 year old single stage finish ...:

 

people would also be surprised that some vehicles still come with single stage paint from the factory. when done right it is just as durable and looks as good as 2 stage paint

 

yeah i could tell you had some shop experience i spent 4 years writing auto estimates for an insurance company in our network repair shops.

 

Go to the Library and read a couple books on painting, or Barnes & Nobles. Get some junk you been meaning to paint & practice. When your good w/ the stuff you don't care about it's time to try someting you do care about.
Single stage/all color spraying uses a hardener in the paint so clean the gun when done & set a timer before you add the hardener. Clear coat/multi stage uses a hardener in the clear. As w/ anything they each have advantages & disadvantages. It really depends on you, your comfort level, the equipment you have access to, etc, etc.
When I first started as a painter's helper I had to prep all the body work & prime it for the painter. When the Owner of the shop couldn't tell who prepped the car for paint I started to spray the "turds" the customer's wanted fixed for cheap (you get what you pay for), and friends stuff for material costs on the side. I always have a hard time charging real friends for stuff I'm learning on, but they always took care of me.

Not to be a squirel and crack anyone's nuts but he just wants some friendly advice...

Try and ask a small local shop w/ a good rep if they are willing to point you in the right direction, show you what they use, & maybe they'll let you watch a spray job. After your first visit, find out if they work Saturdays & what time they take lunch, then buy Pizza & soda for the crew (if you like them & they treat you well), then they will have more patience for your "dumb" questions (which are never really dumb, 'cause you don't know). This is how I became friends w/ a few local kids (younger than me) who didn't know squat. One does it for a living, many do it for a hobby. Good Luck & God Bless.

 

White and grey two-tone like mine!

 

Thanks a bunch for that long reply. Thats why I love this site everyone is so helpful for someone with so many questions.