kickdown linkage interchange

I put a 360 with air gap and performer where a 318 2bbl once sat on my 68 and the rod is about 1 3/4-2" to short. I still have the 904 so I don't know down below if the 727 is different. I plan on cutting my stock rod and welding in a peice or bending the tip of some new threaded rod and grinding the end to fit the swivel. As it is it kind of works with a jam nut in the slot but you lose the purpose of letting the throttle release independent of the kickdown linkage.