Secret/easy way to remove rear door handles?

Hi All

The weather is looking better now so I'm trying to get as much done to the van as I can before it's pressed into service.

I'm doing a colour change from basecoat red metallic (no clearcoat!) back to almost original light blue. The last respray looks like it was done in a lunch break - nothing removed and some 'creative' masking.

I'm taking the doors off to sort sagging hinges and will paint them off the van but I can't work out how to remove the exterior door handle on the rear door (1969 Gen2) - I can feel ends of one of the bolts and its nut on the inside and I can see the partially exposed screw heads on the outside - is there a way to remove the handle lever to get to the screw heads?

Thanks

You reach in back there and pull off the U shaped clip that holds the handle on to get to the screws,,,,

Thanks Donivan

Knew it would be simple - gotta love the way they are put together!

When you go to putting them back on, put the spring clips on before you screw the piece back on the door. Then you can push the handle in and the clip will do it's thing. Also, type in "sagging door handles" in the search bar and you will see what these guys told me to do to fix mine.

Thanks Samsvan good tip and thanks for reminding me about the sagging handle - I was just thinking about that!

When removing the clips, I drag a shop rag across the end of the clip. The rag catches the clip end and I pull up. Bad thing is the clip usually drops into the door bottom and has to be retrieved with a magnet.
108VanGuy...

good trick re the rag - ill do it on my next doors - and yup, had to turn the door upside down and shake it (good exercise) - found a few 'spare' screws too.