Radiator felt

Besides the usual (Turner or Krage's, etc.), anybody know where to buy thick felt? The air blocks in my 61 were pretty well gone when I took them out this time. I'm too stingy to pay $$ for "just enough" felt. Isn't the radiator felt the same as what was used between the large washers on the pedals and the floorboards for sound and air dampeners?

Local fabric shops weren't much help, saddle tack shop in Portland wasn't sure, one guy suggested a prosthetic device maker since they use the stuff for padding on artificial limbs and such......

I'd like to put all mine back.

 

doesn't Herm have that? You are talking about the webbing across the top of grille shell right?

 

I think I got mine from Kaiser Willys Auto Parts and if it's the stuff across the grille it's called a grille welting kit. Comes with some rivets that I couldn't figure out how to use so I just bolted mine on.

 

Nah. What I was looking fer is the piece of (something) that went between the radiator and whatever we call the piece the radiator is mounted on. It was like felt or well-groomed horsehair, heh-heh! About 3/8 thick, and doubled over. Fixed on the one side and then doubled over to seal the air gap twixt the two.

The hood welting material is what I'm faking now. ('nother project) Same stuff as what they used to hold the hood bumpers on when the windshield is tied down. I'm using a dog leash, highly modified.

Still too cheap to buy (*) 's felt.

 

Did you try:

Oregon Leather CO
110 NW 2ND Ave
Portland, OR 97209-3996 View Map
(503) 228-4105

They have a shoe dept in the back that might be able to help you.

For the hood hold down just use a Military web belt the type worn with every work uniform in the military just buy a black one.

The other option for the felt would be a fishing store or some where that sells waders as they use thick felt in the boot soles. You might have to cut two pieces.

 

Actually, Mark, we was there! I was picking up the little hardware pieces that the hold-down uses to tie back to itself. Dunno what you call them..... The welting I was talking about is what holds the hood bumpers on. I'll take pix when I'm done.

 

MSC http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMPAGE=1815

 

McMaster-Carr carries a wide selection of felt stock in various grades, widths and thicknesses. Examples of part numbers in F3 grade (high density) gray wool felt in 3/8 thick strips, 10-foot lengths:
1 in wide: P/N 87395K14 $1.74/ft
1 1/2 in wide: P/N 87395K44 $2.61/ft
2 in wide: P/N 87395K74 $3.25/ft
This grade is similar to the original stuff used, and is what I used. Prices are from a 6 month-old catalog, so check current prices and other (higher and lower) grades online @ http://www.mcmaster.com.

 

Thanks, fellas!!

 

Does anyone have a picture of how the radiator seal felt is supposed to look when attached? I picked up some 3/8" thick 2 inch wide felt and it seems way thick. The small tacks that were holding the original stuff in the grill were only half an inch long. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I think I have a '62 with original felt, can probably get pics this evening if none show up by then.

 

Are you looking for pics of the felt seal in front of the radiator or the webbing on the top of the grill? I was thinking radiator seal when I got these pics.

 

That's what my 58 looks like too. Some sort of pressed horse hair. They sell it at Kaiser but I haven't ordered it yet. Going to for both 55 wagon and 58 CJ.

 

Thats exactly what I am looking for. That is much thinner than what I purchased. How is it attached at the bottom of the grille for the bottom of the radiator?

Also - the stuff sold at Kaiser and Walcks is not for the CJ5 or 6 (or so it says)

 

The material was about 1/4" thick by about 4" wide. One bolt on each side secures it on top, the bottom edge of the bolted side sticks down about 1/4" past the bottom of the top tank, then when it is folded over the flap will stick down most of an inch past the top tank. The bottom piece appears to be fixed with five rivets or snaps of some sort, I can't quite get my fingers in to feel the bottom side to tell what they are, will try to get some pics of the top side of the bottom piece tonight when there are some smaller hands around. The rivets are about 1/2" from the top edge of the felt and the bottom edge hangs down just enough to cover the bottom tank. I'm looking at a '57 and a '62 and they appear to be identical.

 

Just wondering... outdoor carpet, or carpet underlay work for you, maybe? I'd be checking Home Depot.

 

Walcks told me theirs is not horse hair. Kaisers told me they have both types and that it will work, you just cut to length. It shows for MB and 2 and 3. Expensive, but that's what I'm going with. I need some for both wagon and jeep, so I'll order one and see, since I'll always use on wagon.

 

I talked to Walcks today and Carl told me the stuff they have for the MB, GPW and flat fenders won't work for a CJ5/6 because it's not wide enough (it needs to be 4 inches wide).

So I just bought some of this:GRAINGER APPROVED Felt Sheet,F3,1/4 In Thick,24 x 24 In - Felt Sheets and Strips - 2FHH7|2FHH7 - Grainger Industrial Supply I won't need it all. If anyone needs some - PM me and we can figure it out.

 

The spring clip that holds the welting in place for the cotton seal where the hood meets the top of the grill is NOT what you want for OEM. Think about a 7/8 long square shaft carpet tack that has a twist, like real long threads IS OEM.
Pop rivets and washers now hold mine. Buddy is a horse guy and had an old saddle blanket for the felt replacement.
The felt is there to protect the caps of the radiator from stones and flap it the wind to redirect air onto the CORE section of the radiator.
Gotime has a good replacement suggestion above, cut the length with sheers.

 

I'm replacing the webbing (or welting) on top of my grill and I don't have the original spring clips. New rivets are a real pain. Anyone know any tricks to installing with the new split rivets? Or some other attachment