More minor progress today - got the reproduction outside door handle installed (and removed) when I found that it would not activate the latch. Comparing the mechanism with an original it appears the rod attached to the exterior knob wasn’t long enough by about a quarter of an inch. So what I did was heat the bend and raise up that long part of the rod effectively lengthening where it meets the latch - problem solved
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Also installed (and removed) the window regulator now equipped with a motor to raine and lower the glass. Why did I have to remove it after installing it? I found out the door handle mechanism and it’s connecting rod needs to go on first. That entails having to remove the previously installed latch. All told I wasted about 2 hours on a 20 minute job. The driver’s side will (should) be a piece of cake. No pics since it’s all hidden by the inner door panel.
