Has anyone ever tried to bend a door on an old f-100 (1956 exactly) using the procedure they show in the shop manual? the tool looks like something out of the dark ages. Is this something an average mechanic can do, or should I find another door?

I tried, fairly unsuccessfully to bend the door on my '56 using a rolled up towel and slaming the door. Supposed to be an old hot rodders trick. Maybe it works on light gauge doors. The '56 doors are fairly stout. Maybe you could build one of those gizmos with some 2x4's. When I am not working on other projects I think I will take the doors right off and re-shape and re-paint them.
If you go ahead with the contraption let us know how it works. Good luck.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia