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The right front door handle on my 51 200 is coming loose. On inspection, the old handle retainer, the one that slides in from the edge of the door, has a broken piece on it. Any suggestions as to a good source? And does anyone make a more durable one? Every one I've tried to remove broke in the process of removing it. thanks

Packards International had them made. They are on eBay often.

San Diego Region of PI reproduced them some years back in a material that supposedly doesn't rust. Their website still lists them.packardsandiego.com/NewPriceList_01-06-13.htm Believe Big Kev used theirs on his car but IIRC, he mentioned something about them he wasn't totally happy with.

Max lists them a bit cheaper at $45 but don't know his source.

Kanter also lists them as available at $89. Don't know if his are originals or if he had them repro'd as well. Other than that it's probably hope you find a good one on ebay.

thanks I'll check with SD and Max in the morning. I also noticed that the San Diego folks have the heat shields that someone was looking for the other day.

FYI - I put in an order with Max on Friday and got the retainer clip in today's mail. It was a steel one, with minor surface rust on it, so it may be NOS. I removed the damaged one - it was brass, and had a tag on it that said "51-56, $55". It had broken in two places. The steel one went in easily and now the handle doesn't wobble when you open the door.

IIRC the ones that look like brass are actually non-rusting beryllium copper, a material commonly used for speciality springs and the like but currently out of favor due to some toxicity concerns.

The steel ones are much stronger. The B-C ones are very brittle.

I just fitted two B-C ones so I'll treat them gently. My old ones were rusted too badly to use.

One thing I noticed is that these don't press right in to be flush with the door metal. Both are out a little. Not sure if they should as my car came 'disassembled', in boxes. The end of the retainers are out from the door metal approx 1/4" and I can't see why that is so.

Can post a photo if necessary.

My steel on went all the way flush with the door. The important thing is that both posts on the door handle are firmly pulled in. I squirted WD40 on mine before I pushed it in. It always helps.

The rear door clip will not go flush on a front door if you have accidently put it in the wrong place.