[Ryan]

OK I ordered the new gaskets and thought the replacement would be easy.



I removed the fastener for the handle and can't get the handle to move enough to clear the hole in the body.



Do the door panels have to come off and linkage removed from the handle?



Anybody done this ?

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[tsj9197]

Excellence magazine did a write up on this procedure a few months back. they showed that the job could be done without disconnecting the linkage or cutting the gasket like alot of people do.



the handles have to move back and forth to get them to come out of the door.

it's almost like a puzzle.

try to slide the handle all the way forward and then pull out slightly as you slide it back towards the rear. or something very similar to that if i recall.



good luck, new gaskets make the car look that little bit nicer if they were old and cracked like mine.

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[Ryan]

When I try to pull the handle out of the car it really bends the door at the front. This just scares me. I guess I need to be more brutal about it.



Nice color car there Todd....Cobalt blue?

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[mitch968]

Ryan, I wouldn't be too brutal. I did this a while ago and don't remember having to force anything. I think you just have to wiggle and twist it around until you find the right angle to free it. Sorry, don't remember more details than that, but you shouldn't be bending the door.

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[tsj9197]

yes it's cobalt blue metallic paint with the 2 tone light grey and cobalt blue interior.

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[Anchorman]

Once you're removed the cheesehead bolt from the side of the door (it's this bolt that holds the handle mechanism in place), you should be able to move the handle forward (it make take a tap with a rubber mallet to get it moving). Once it's forward, pull the rear of the handle out of the door opening. Then, sliding the handle mechanism towards the back of the car gets everything out (but still attached to the mechanism inside the door with the rods). Nothing brutal or of sheet metal bending force should be required. If that's what it seems to be needing, something is wrong - or being done wrong.

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[Ryan]

Got it to work last night. The front of the handle was not letting go and if I pulled the back out far enough to clear the hardware it would bend the door panel.



After tapping and twisting the handle I was able to break the front loose and "get er done"



Thanks for the feedback

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[Anchorman]

Good job.

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[SILVY968]

Ditto Ryan.

I went down in flames today when I tried it.

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