whats the best way to bend a handle

I tried to bend a Hurst shift lever similar to yours for a hobby stock car several years ago by putting it in a vice and using a cheater and it snapped in two easily. It didn't even bend much before it snapped. My next attempt I heated to red hot and that shifter bent easily but the chrome flaked off quite a ways above and below the bend. It worked but looked like crap! My first recommendation would be to use the correct shifter but if you're intent on bending it follow Dave Bonds recommendation.