Trying to fix door, need advice

[tortured_serenity]

Ok I am having an impossible time trying to find another rear door my 83 cadillac superior so i've decide to try and fix it myself. Problem is it won't open and is stuck from the impact. I've tried pulling it open, pushing with legs while holding handle inside and it won't budge a bit.
Any advice on how to get it open then off without messing it up anymore?

[hotroddwayne]

If you can get the inside door panel off the back door you can (hopefully) force the door latch open... your back door is caved in some if I remember right. The linkage that releases it could have popped off when it got hit or the door is wedged. You may get lucky & it's just the clip that holds the linkage to the latch let go... but the trick is GETTING TO IT as you said. Weigh your options & take off the interior panel or cut a hole in the door with a die grinder (you need a door skin anyway) where the latch is. Ok back up a bit here... Is the door gap between the door & the body wider or narrower than usual? If it is the door could be wedged & the latch could be bound up as a result. Looking @ my '80 S&S it may be similar to your '83 Superior, so i took some pix so you can at least reference where the latch is compared to the door handle. BTW there's screws in my door panel that CAN'T be accessed when the door is closed, yours may be the same. Now i'm going to say something stupid... but it's a possibility. The door handle button will push in even when the door is locked. Banded Spirit's hearse loading door does strange things concerning the door lock, & it's a Superior too... so it may be locked. If you can hear & feel the lock disengage with your key, ignore the "door is locked" angle! Banded Spirit's door WON'T unlock with a key, he has to climb through the coach, something's wrong inside his loading door too. I'd cut a hole in the door skin since it's caved in anyway so I could see in there & work rather than ruin the door panel if all else fails. Here's some pix for you for reference:

[BIGEVIL]

^^^Great advice^^^