I have a 98 soft top Tracker with the zip side windows.  would a 94 or older top fit the top frame on my truck?

Is it the same type of hardware for the top frame?

Do the side windows on the older ones roll up or open in some way?

Just examining a way to do away with the pain in the arse side zip system on my model, but want to have opening side windows and the older style is half the price of the newer.

The older style tops are 2 piece, the
side windows don't remove, only the
back, there are also 2 different mounting
systems, but I'm not sure what year the
new style started in.

      The bottom of the rear window is different as it actually attaches to the tailgate on the older models.  The way the top attaches to the front bow is slightly different also.  And as Wildgoody said, the side windows don't come out at all on the pre '95 tops.  I think you might could take an older model top to an upholstery shop and have it customized to fit the newer model, but not positive.    

That's really weird - I thought the 95 and the 94 were the same (obviously they aren't).  My 95 has zip-out side windows.

but I'm not sure what year the
new style started in.

95 and ended in 98

     The bottom of the rear window is different as it actually attaches to the tailgate on the older models.  The way the top attaches to the front bow is slightly different also.  And as Wildgoody said, the side windows don't come out at all on the pre '95 tops.  I think you might could take an older model top to an upholstery shop and have it customized to fit the newer model, but not positive.    

You can replace the mounting hardware from a 94 on your 98 and then put the top on.

   Took a look at the tops on my '95 and '92 and realized the '95 has a bar that runs behind the center header that the '92 doesn't have.  

I have my softtop mounting bits if your interested (from a 91). Shipping might be a pain due to the size of the bows, but I'd take $20 plus shipping.