random interior question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 3,857
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From: nashville TN
random interior question
the matte looking carbon fiber trim pkg that comes on the z06 can it be made to look like high gloss c/f? meaning if I sand it lightly then apply a new poly coating will it become high gloss or is it in the c/f material itself that makes it matte?
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Since no one has yet responded... I have no idea, but given the way such things are so often produced, I'd not chance it unless willing to replace it all, as well. Just sayin'... All the best, in any event. 
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No idea either, but if you try it, perhaps buy one used piece and try it on that - not on the ones on your car.
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I have the matte finish in my 2019 Z06 and a friend has the glossy finish in his 2018 Carbon 65 Edition Grand Sport. To my eyes they look like different fiber weaves. The glossy version also seems a little darker.
i personally like the matte finish as I think it looks like it belongs in a sports car. However we all like different things so I also suggest you pick up a used piece to experiment on.
i personally like the matte finish as I think it looks like it belongs in a sports car. However we all like different things so I also suggest you pick up a used piece to experiment on.
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I swapped mine to the GM Gloss Carbon, love it and was a fairly straight forward swap
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 3,857
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From: nashville TN
I have the matte finish in my 2019 Z06 and a friend has the glossy finish in his 2018 Carbon 65 Edition Grand Sport. To my eyes they look like different fiber weaves. The glossy version also seems a little darker.
i personally like the matte finish as I think it looks like it belongs in a sports car. However we all like different things so I also suggest you pick up a used piece to experiment on.
i personally like the matte finish as I think it looks like it belongs in a sports car. However we all like different things so I also suggest you pick up a used piece to experiment on.
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Northern Illinois
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Matte finish stuff is out there a little harder to find than the Gloss I had found. If you turn some gloss into matte post results many would be interested in what you did and your results
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 402
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From: Matthews NC
Carbon fiber finish
So when I got my new steering wheel with matte finish carbon fiber it became scratched. I was able to sand it with 2500 grit sandpaper and paint it with matte gloss finish paint. You can’t tell at all! I can’t see why you can’t do he same with clear gloss paint.
I painted mine right in place!
I painted mine right in place!
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Drifting
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From: Blacksburg Va
I have no experience w/ Corvette CF but have a little here and there with DIY CF. What I have seen is that gloss vs semi or matte is determined by the clearcoat. It may be that on high production CF parts a clearcoat is basically baked in to the layup. CF is just a fabric. Not much different than fiberglass as far as how one works with it. You lay the fabric in the mold and saturate w/ epoxy, let it set and then pop it out of the mold. Generally people will then clear it. I believe one point of the clear is to protect it from UV damage. Clears are available in different gloss to matte finishes. If I were going to try changing a piece of CF, I would find a body shop paint supplier who can mix automotive paint and put it into a rattle can for you. That supplier will also have clears in rattle cans. I have done several small touchup repairs to auto paint (scrapes in bumper covers etc) and have had very good success w/ the rattle can process. So I am sure you can get what you want w/o much trouble. Any sanding that you do should be very minimal and done w/ something in the 600-1000 grit range. If you sand through to the CF your job will be more or less ruined.
