I'm waiting for my '49 service manuals to arrive, until they do I'll need some help. The rear door latches on the car work fine, but the front ones both do not latch when opened from the outside and then closed. The inside handle must be actuated for the latch to close. I took the inner door panel off the drivers side and I can see there is no return movement of the latch mechanism when the outside handle is released. When the inside handle is released the latch returns to the down position without problem. However, the latch will work it's way back up and the door will open on turns (ask me how I know!). I unbolted the slotted head bolt that holds the door handle on from the inside and three washers, the bolt, and a spring fell inside the door (I retrieved them). I don't know how to reinstall them, and I don't know how to remove the outside handle. It will move outward, but I cannot get it out of the door. Do I still need to remove something else? Does anyone have a diagram of the door handle/latch system that they could post? Any help would be appreciated.

 

see if this is what you're looking for btw, sorry the book only shows 76-88 model door handles
IMG107_zps266e205e.jpg

 

It's not, but thanks. I now have a book, and it does show how to remove the 98 handle. You have to remove the weatherstrip just below the top of the door and there is a small hole that you insert a 1/4" wrench into and turn a bolt that holds the handle in. Now I'm having trouble removing the latch, but I think I still need to remove the lock mechanism to free that up.

 

Nevermind, figured it out. Just had to play with it forever. It's fixed now and the door won't swing open anymore when turning right (extra exciting in a car with no seatbelts!).

 

You took the whole fun out of it