Question about early vs. late tops Options

[DC_neun_vierzehn]

I know there are two different tops (early vs. late).

My question is can an early top work on a late car IF the rubber seals on the sides have been updated (to match the late windows) AND the bump stops have been swapped (to match the late latches)?

The reason I ask is that I have two spare tops (one early and one late). I have them both stripped down (no rubber, no hardware, no felt headliner, etc.). Just the fiberglass top. And I noticed that the early top much lighter. I weighed them and the early top is approx. 17 pounds whereas the late top is approx. 23 pounds.

I'm not looking to shed weight for performance (although that's a bonus), but a lighter top would be less cumbersome to take off and put on the car.

TIA

-Kris

[JamesM]

While there are changes to the roof itself and the only difference as far as fitment goes is related to the rear rubber block/latches, and those are swappable. As long as you make sure the rear rubber stand offs used match the rear latches used you should be fine.

As illustrated in the posted link the rear blocks have a taller narrower version and a shorter wider version. What isnt shown in that thread is that there are 2 different rear Targa latches that correspond with the different rubber blocks one version is shallower in depth with wider alignment bumps and the other is deeper with the alignment bumps closer together. A mismatch of these components is what causes poor Targa fitment.