Another advice from the seller was:
the latch should be attached and locked (at least half way) when working on or trimming the TOP. It is important to keep the front gap evenly. some more old pics...
spacious...
BTW: Maybe you could try the OEM latch, see if that might do the trick. If it does...it might be a cool "upgrade" for the TOP. I do like the Z-TOP idea to secure even the lever with a screw, but the OEM one seems superior in looks and convenience.
JB, is there an item number somewhere visible? Might be only a couple bucks to buy a new one, just like the hinges.