I put a new radiator in my XJ a couple years ago. There was some ugly rotted looking rubber asphalt sheet material around the radiator and condenser I'm assuming to keep any air from escaping past the fins keeping things as thermally efficient as possible. I tossed them because of the condition
But I've read they make a big difference in summer city slow traffic.

I live in Yuma and summer is coming. 118 degrees last summer and she was hitting 230 cruising. This is with a completely maintained cooling system, HD fan clutch and AC on high.

any info on where to find to find the factory material?

 

What vehicle do you have? Different ones will have different parts. Your local parts store like an O'Reilly's probably carries the fan guard for the radiator.

 

Its a 98 XJ. It has the fan shroud, I am speaking of the rubber asphalt seals under the top of the radiator support that seal the condenser to the radiator so air doesnt bypass around the radiator so much. This is likely a dealer only part.

 

I'm still not 100% sure about the part in question.

I don't know whether yours is a straight six or automatic et cetera, but I bet that the cooling system is about the same on all of the submodels. Are you talking about part #5 on the diagram linked? These are rubber pieces that go over the vertical bolts on the radiator and go under the metal bracket.
https://www.moparpartsoverstock.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=921442&ukey_make=1 097&ukey_model=15916&modelYear=1998&ukey_category= 22690&ukey_driveLine=9359&ukey_trimLevel=19966

 

Also, crusier54.com has some factory service manuals to address that question.

 

Found some info. They are definitely necessary at least in my part of the earth. They are referred to as radiator air seals and theres 2 side seals and a top and bottom. They are roofing felt material.
https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/...oling-1422851/

Furthermore there is a single long seal rubberized foam type seal that goes all around the back of the condenser so it seals against the radiator fins.

http://gojeep.willyshotrod.com/Radiator%20016.jpg

 

I only have older ones. They must not have had them. If you are worried about overheating and not worried about perfect fuel efficiently, then you can change your thermostat to one that opens at a lower temperature. I did that because my fan shroud broke and I didn't want to **** with it again.

 

So I have been following this thread cause I have no idea what you are talking about. Pictures always help. So I am pretty sure I don't have them on my '00 XJ. I replaced my radiator 5 years ago and don't remember seeing them. They are not listed in my '97 to '99 or '00 parts catalogs I have. Did I have them at one point? Not a clue. The link to that forum where they show the shots at Post # 25 is a ZJ forum. That shot at the gojeep link does not look like an XJ either. Maybe the PO adapted ZJ ones for your '98 XJ. This I can tell you. The shots at Post #25 appear to me made out of the same material as the mud shield. I would like to see shots of your set up specifically.

Edit: My mistake by not looking at the 4 cylinder parts diagram. Read my post below.
In my defense I don't ever think about the 4 cylinder XJ's. LOL.

 

I think I might have figured it out.
Do you have a 4 cylinder?
If so we need to know these things.
So instead of me doing all this typing.
Go here. Read it. Do what it says.
And you can see and look up the part numbers.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/research-249236/

 

So why won't roofing felt work? It's almost as useful as duct tape.

Figure out what you need as far as height and width then find a place that does Auto/marine and see if you can purchase a few feet.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00NL4BR...0-effca2c605a4

 

So it's been around 90 here in Yuma. I pulled the front clip and installed these mysterious air deflectors around the condenser, I also put foam pipe insulation around the bottom and top of the radiator and condenser. So pretty much any and all incoming air is going directly through the important parts now.

Stop and go idle, drive through temps are staying a touch below the 210 mark on the gauge. Before, it was almost to the next hash mark.

I'll get my scan gauge real temp numbers later but so far it's running a lot cooler around town. So the factory air seals are a definite necessity.

 

Bringing up old thread.........Detroit Muscle, which makes the 'engine shield' which goes under front of engine, may be willing to make this piece.

Here is a link to what they make there for the engine shield (which is also an important piece that helps protect the alternator). https://www.detroitmuscletechnologies.com/jeep/

It is made of similar material and attached to AC condensor and 'seals' to radiator as well as providing 'side wings' to help deflect/divert air through condensor/radiator rather than around it.

I am convinced it helps quite a bit with cooling, ie diverting air through condensor/radiator. I'm not saying it's absolutely necessary as many likely run without it.

Need help finding a part number and diagram.........I have looked at the catalogues and cannot find it.

Hope someone can find the part number and we can have detroit muscle make these similar to the engine shield.