I'm having some problems here... I can't get my door handle off for painting the truck :S Can anyone help? I've got both the bolts, but I dunno how to get that control arm out...

do you mean the handel on the outside if so all you should have to do is remove the bolts and pull

Ok sorry what year truck are we talking about

1980 - It has a pole that it attached to it which doesn't seem to pull through anywhere, even at an angle...

anyone?

Those latches are a real bare, but as I remember you unbolt the handle and carefully pull the handle out at the bottom. Then if you look up from under the handle you will see a small hole under the key lock cylinder. Push something like an awl up into the hole and it will release the lock cylinder. Let it slide out the back and leave it on the actuating rod to the latch. Then you can rotate the handle and pull it out side the door and you slip the clip back on the actuator to allow the rod to come off.
You may have to remove the screws/bolts that hold the latch to the door. That way the rods going to the latch will go down further so you can pull the handle out of the door to remove the rods. Good luck, the trick is removing the key cylinder. Before I figured that out I did a lot of screaming. :)

I'm sorry, I was thinking about a late eighties style handle. Yours is still the old style handle, not "flush" mounted like the late one.

On yours, just slip the clip on the handle out a little and the rod will come out.

If it is "S" shaped and does not comeout, then it is likely that you need to loosen the latch and let it drop down a little so the handle can come out with the rod attached.

Sorry for the lack of "facts", but when I do things like this at work, and I do it everyday on different cars. I don't store the information, I just do the job. And after twenty five years of doing it, a 1972 Vega and the 2002 Honda all run together. So I couldn't possibly remember.

I do have a 1980ish truck at work that I may be able to get a better idea for you. I'll check today.