Unfortunately, I have no help here. Wish you did live closer! I need some advice to chew on.

I have access to a paint booth and lots of advice there but it is 40 miles away. I would almost have to bring everything down there and work on it nonstop until finished. I am retired military and the facility is the Auto Craftshop at Fort Carson. I can buy paint at wholesale prices through them so going that route is tempting. I don't think the paintshop I visited today is interested so I am stuck doing it myself.

The reason I have everything off frame is because I bought another '53 frame after an "expert" welded a '69 Camaro subframe on crooked. Plus, the truck was a 3/4 ton and he cut too much off while shortening it and messed up the welding there. I bought another frame and put a Mustang IFS on and got an expert welder to do the hard work.

If I buy enough paint to do the whole truck, why would I get shade variances? I can just see a dark fender here, a lighter cab there and a pink bed.

Thnks for your informative reply. I appreciate all the advice I can get.