John,
I was at UVA from '68-'75 (as a student and then a research assistant). We bought the '54 Suburban near Crewe, VA in 1970. That's when/where I learned how to keep these truck's running. My teachers were local guys that built cars for dirt-track racing - they liked having a hippie student to joke with.
Those were enjoyable and interesting time - at least what I remember. I was in EVSC and Comp Sci; wewre you a student - what dept?
As I said above, I will not be putting the handle back on for a few weeks (a friend is painting the latch mechanism). However, I have the handle and retainer parts (but I do not remember how I got them off). There is a spring and "cup" that go over the rear stem of the handle - these hold the handle in place. A small pin goes through a hole in the stem and this holds the spring and cup in place. That pin has to be removed in order to get the handle off.
By the way, I hope you are saving all your clamshell parts, in case you want them for the future (or to sell/trade).
Good luck,
Tim
