How to build a product configurator like described below, or where should I look for assistance [on hold]

I am working on a webpage for Parts for RC cars that I make. I am not a coder and know just enough to be able to tweak my css and be dangerous. I am using Joomla cms and a shopping cart called j2store.

Each product has up to 7 different regions that at the moment could have 7 options each, but in reality could be up to 40 options per region. As such there is NO way I could make a separate image for each variation combination. The Shopping cart I choose to use allows me to set up options and have multiple options per product without generating the tens of thousands of separate variations of the product.

I need it to make it so that when the option is chosen it uses a PHP function to change the specific region it is mapped to to the color they have chosen to give a visual preview of what they want. I know this is above me but with tools and materials I am working with a near ZERO budget.

Where is the best place to look for help in this situation?

My first thought is to do multiple PNG images stacked on each other with only 1 region in white and the rest in transparent. I could do the image stack using div relative and absolute, but I have NO idea how to go about doing the php or jQuery or whatever to link their choice the the color change action.

OK so I guess I am not even sure how to ask for help on what I need.