The archives has many entries ,some better than others, stating that
removel of the locking strip will seriously compromise the window
installation stregnth. An accident  may cause the windshield to pop out
without this strip. One person actually went to a junk yard and
experimented by kicking out windshields.It was determined that removal of
the strip decreased stregnth by 50%.As for replacment of the strip, the
only way to do it,without destroying the new strip,is to remove the window
and install the strip ,and then replacing the window in the frame. Rub the
rubber gasket  vasoline and the gasket will come back to
life.Partsexpress.com has a bottle of rubber conditioner that claims to do
the same. Vasoline works super for me.Just glob it on.New locking strips is
muy bueno also.