Look at the other photos. Your center link makes the inner tie rod end angle up at a angle and everybody elses points straight foreward. Looks like you may have the wrong center link if it can't be flipped end-for-end because of the taper. tmm
EDIT Misread your post mike--------- The difference here is late versus early, When using the later or early, you must match the pitman, the idler, and the center link. Otherwise they simply will not fit, period.