I have disconnected the latch bar, removed both nuts, but still the outer door handle will not come out.  It slides up and down in the front, but the back side appears to be catching on something.  I have tried to gently pry it out, but I'm worried about damaging the body.  Everything is back together right now (except for the inner door handle).  Before I attempt this again (the nuts were a bear), I would like to know if anyone else has had this problem and what the handle could possibly be hung up on and how do I get past it?

 

Larry

The 2 nuts and the rod should be the only thing stopping it fropm coming out if your set up is similar to a 79...the rod could be dangling from the back of the handle and just hanging up inside the frame...

Hop this helps

Nice article, but in it the handle just slides out.  Mine is getting hung up on something I can't see.  When they say, "we unscrewed the retaining nuts and pulled the handle out of the door" -- that didn't happen for me.  I unscrewed the retaining nuts, disconnected the rod and the handle hung up on the back side (bolt near the back edge of the door).  Nothing below is holding it, but it will not come out.  I thought it may have been glued down, but it does wiggle a little. 

The hole that the stud on the handle goes thru may be slightly deformed, and not allowing the stud to pass thru it cleanly. The handles only have the two nuts securing them to the door, so it should lift on out. You may need to press the handle down, like you're opening the door, and then try to wiggle it out. I can't think of anything else that would hold it captive in there. You may wanna look closely( as best you can) to see if there is a lock washer or something still stuck on that stud after you removed the nut.

I just put mine in. You must pull down on the rod as you pull the handle up and towards the inside of the car. Hopes this helps you.  I also removed the three screws for the locking mechanism so it could be lowered makeing the nuts a little easier.

the rod (wire) where the handle pivits is not centered (usually i find them slid to the rear  approx 1/8 inch) this wire is holding it if the nuts are removed and the opening linkage is disconnected).

 

I'm having some restoration work done.  The handle is out now and the doors are off the car.  :-)