Bob, if that is a classic Dawn vice (which has just such a curve as you describe), it is made of cast iron and despite its age it is worth more than the Victa engine you are working on (if it is a 6" in good condition, at least $200). I'd suggest you switch to a more disposable, or less destructible, anvil. For similar jobs I grab a large piece of steel that already has plenty of dents in it, and use as big a hammer as I can fit into the space. My favourite is an old sledgehammer that I shortened for one-hand use. However people have removed car ball joints for decades just with a couple of two pound hammers and a fair amount of strength and persistence. My own preference is to use overwhelming force so you don't beat the thing into an entirely different shape by using a prolonged cold-forging process.
