Odd roof fasteners

[TJMexico]

Another newbie question here.

I plan to have my roof painted soon, so I was looking at the logistics of taking it off. There are three fastener points on each side. The front-most fastener on each side is not a bolt, but a plastic retainer. I'll include a photo below.

Is this normal? Seems that all the fasteners should be bolts, especially the front one. Every video I have looked at related to removing the top has six bolts.

And what is the best way to remove these? it looks to be a u-shaped fastener with both tips connected under the lip. I'd assume just crimping down the hooks with pair of pliers.

I'm thinking I'd best replace them with a bot when I put it back on, no?

 

[TJ Jim]

Isn’t that just a clip to hold the seal in place? I don’t think that’s to hold the top on ?

 

[TJMexico]

Isn’t that just a clip to hold the seal in place? I don’t think that’s to hold the top on ?

Apparently it is! I looked again from the back and can see the bolts at the very front of the cap.

Thanks. Like I said, Another newbie question...

But I assume that they will have to be removed when I take the top off.

 

[TJ Jim]

Hey we all learn from newbie’s.

 

[macleanflood]

 

[Badgerbiter]

Semper discens!

 

[chili_pepper]

Isn’t that just a clip to hold the seal in place? I don’t think that’s to hold the top on ?

The seal uses adhesive. I think it's actually a locating lug for installing the hardtop. They would seem to be missing from many tops and hard to find as a replacement part (if one was looking).

The top should be held on by torx bolts or thumb bolts threading through plate nuts under the rail.