The factory OEM 2932230 has been out of production since late Summer of 2017 and the last ones that I purchased were in November of 2017. At that time, I bought up every one that was in the Chrysler system. The OEM seals have come and gone at least two other times in the past 12 years. As of April 1, 2021, Chrysler officially made the part NS1 which will basically mean that they are history from the OEM vendor.
The reproductions have been out since around 2012 as I recall. I was involved in the development of those pieces. The current reproductions have been out of production since around August of 2020.
The issues with manufacturing the parts is finding that happy medium so that the part comes out uniformly with each and every production run. Extruding plastic and rubber pieces can be very tempermental and the slightest deviation in any one area will result in an issue. Even with the high tech computerized equipment available today, we see variations in the materials that we manufacture. That has been an issue with the reproductions since day one.
The OEM seals were used from 1966 up through 1993 in the trucks and vans. That is the only reason that they were still available through Chrysler. The 66 and 67 H-pins were slightly different from what I have seen as the black ones posted in the pictures above. The current white H-Pins were more commonly found from 68 through 93. Even the fastener supply company, Auveco, offered the H-Pins up to a couple of years ago, but they have dropped them as well.
The flocking allows the mylar material to move better within the channel. Just as found on modern cars in various weatherstripping areas, a plain rubber extrusion will act as a squeegee against the glass, but the flocking works to make the glass less likely to bind up against the seal.
As for as an alternative, the 62 to 65 B-Bodies used a material similar to velcro that was glued into the channel. Even since the 30's, car manufacturers have been using mohair and mole skin to line glass channels. I can see eventually guys trying to do something of that nature if a reproduction does not come available in the next year or so.
The "wings" of the seal serves two functions. It acts as a seal to keep water and debris from entering into the car. Secondly, the seal also acts as an isolator of the glass to the division bar frame. The H-pins will work in that fashion and the flocking is there so to make it easier to roll the glass up and down.
As for when a reproduction is available and actually ready to ship, I am hearing the same rumors as everyone else. There has been at least three different individuals in the past two to three years that have claimed to be bringing them to the market place. I know of at least one that has the inside track. But with Covid, economic concerns, and a variety of other issues working within the industry, I am of the opinion that until I have inventory sitting on the shelf, it is all talk. I know that we have been told that some of our weatherstripping for the window felts has been on order since June of 2020. The latest ETA is February of 2022. I truly hope that a quality reproduction comes available, but until that time, I am unsure. The other concern is the pricing. The last OEM seals listed in the $87 range from Chrysler. The reproductions were generally selling in the $85 to $100 per pair. Flocking and the H-pins are relatively cheap. The mylar sheets and the production of the channel will be the cost factor. Hopefully the new reproductions will retail in the $100 range for the pair.
