How do you remove a trunk handle on a 49 Chrysler?

[Guest 49Desoto]

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to remove the trunk handle off of a 49 Chrysler. It has a single post that goes through the trunk bracket and then through the trunk lid. It looks like there is a solid black ring and then some type of cap on the post. Neither one will budge.

Ideas?

[Guest De Soto Frank]

The entire handle and bezel come-off the trunk lid as an assembly.

To remove the handle from the bezel may require removal of a retaining pin from the square operating shaft.

If you can find a factory shop-manual, there should be some detailed instructions for removal and repair.

Two sources for manuals: Andy Bernbaum, and Roberts MOtor PARts.

Then there are the auto literature guys like Johnson's and Walter Miller.

[c49er]

The trunk handle is retained to the big die cast housing by a crimped 7/8" tubular retainer ( you will see (2) 1/4" depressed crimped spots- they keep the sleeve retainer firmly holding the handle in place, it's down inside the large housing just below the 3/8" square shaft. If you can get at it use sharp jawed pliers to twist this round retainer 90 degrees then use a rubber mallet and tap the handle out of the housing. If you cannot rotate the retainer just carefully and firmly tap the handle and sahft out-it's the only way. Have done lots of MoPar door and trunk handles like this. There also is a wave washer under this retainer sleeve to keep the handle from being sloppy . Putting it back together is another story-use a setup to force the sleeve and wave washer down firmly with a deep socket or piece of tubing and use JB weld to hold/ glue the sleeve permanately in place as you cannot replace the sleeve with a new one. Also it's hard to re-crimp the sleeve tightly as done by the factory back in the exact same spot. JB weld or a Devcon product works 100% to hold the retaining sleeve..

Bob