328 - Radiator Sealing Foam Strip

I have removed my front radiator from the nose of the car. There are remnants of a 'foam strip' that was down both sides of the radiator, but which have long since disintegrated.

I want to put a new foam strip on the new radiator but I cannot find any reference to this part on the parts diagrams, and my original strip is long gone so I cannot measure it's thickness.

can anyone tell me what the thickness of the foam should be, and whather it is a specialist part - or can I use the type of stuff that comes from a harware store

many thanks

 

Hardware store or foam shop.

The parts are plainly shown in the parts book with the radiator if you are interested. Cannot imagine why you could not find them.

 

Thanks for the smart reply.

 

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=m-d+grey+foam+weatherstrip

 

Yotache Window Air Conditioner Foam Insulating Strip 1 X 1 Inch, High Resilience Foam Weather Stripping Seal Tape, 6.5 Feet Long, 2 Pcs
https://a.co/d/1kIhobd


I found this foam to be very useful. It has a memory foam like spring to it, so it seals imperfections better than typical foam. Has held up for some years, so is suitably heat resistant. It is black. Probably less dense than other ac types of foam or the OEM, but seals very nicely. Good adhesive as well. You select the 2 inch wide when ordering. You could double up and get more depth with the other sizes if suitable.

 

It was quite a few years ago, And if I remember correctly, I picked up one of those rolled foam camping pads at my local Walmart and used. It was high density gray foam that I cut the strips out of. think maybe cost me $6.

 

Whatever the source, I would be looking for closed cell foam. Open cell foam (which is typical in inexpensive foam products) is essentially a sponge which will tend to hold onto any liquid it encounters.

 

Thank you for the last four helpful replies - I've bought some of the wider closed cell heat reistant foam from a local autostore - used for sealing gaps in auto panels. A bit more expensive at £12, but better than the £118 that Ferrari wanted.

 

Sort of. Open cell foam of the types available for weatherstrip will not wick or absorb water, unless there is a high pressure or it is immersed for some long time. Closed cell has compressed smaller balloon like cells which makes it more water resistant that open cell foam, but it is not necessarily totally waterproof, there are still gaps between all the closed cell balloons. But closed cell foam tends to be quite hard and therefore less able to seal in some applications.

For the Ferrari radiator foam, any water absorption will be quickly dissipated by the radiator heat. The open cell foam will conform much more easily to the imperfect large gap sealing areas. The main goal is to force maximum air to actually flow through the radiator.

But if you indeed find a closed cell foam that is not too hard, and it seals nicely, then that's a fine outcome too.

 

I used AC sealing foam (this is basically the same stuff)

https://www.amazon.com/Frost-AC43H-Conditioner-Weatherseal-42-Inch/dp/B0000DH4JL?crid=2SOHOMJC3HCZ1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dBFEKtQnebtDU_S5SWaIo9Z2Leyzo5g93oGHJJf4vVIdocVWfKdZ27TTK5d1R8OGWb36X6HwyTC3GvWqM5a5gNJ1j-H5HQacTEOpzu4RSUPh4qane8Sh3AS81A_yNuzJic_anb2leEnMFLafLA7RC3D6bAKJSYh5oRu9vA2bndM_02gdvMxK7oAyxAy_Xcob4SSoWVlunyOjuUOy0gtdD5YVN5NbM3g7M4-8C1BWfIFeptvtYF32lokjEZcZhr-T-HTK8hfYGaACXV8N8tkoQWvt9zHz05qo2Gfr8TS-3Bw.Mo43jsCEr5YIFy35BAqAjWR5fTyfr4W3NI235Ijmcz4&dib_tag=se&keywords=ac+foam&qid=1749828084&sprefix=ac+foam%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-6

 

If that foam is long disintegrated, then chances are that the foam on the underside of the hood is also disintegrated - it is to seal the forward radiator section of the front compartment from the spare tire section, so that the hot air that has passed through the radiator is forced out the hood vent. There may also be a foam strip on the hood that seals against the top of the radiator? (Not sure on 328, as I have a 308). But have a look for those near-radiator sealing foam elements as well.

Gordon

 

Yup, that's exactly what I used to seal the top of the radiator to the bottom of the bonnet in a QV. Used this adhesive tape: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQYL3W95?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 to mount the foam to the bottom of the bonnet.
- Dave