I know people weld things like this but that would be my last choice. I guess with a truck like this with very low miles expected in anyone's lifetime, I could sign on more easily to that. I guess that short of disassembling the trans and replacing the output shaft, there might not be any other way to secure the situation. That option would still be available if the shaft had to be cut to disassemble later, after it was welded.
It does sound like you have a plan, perhaps a couple of options. We are hoping for the best.
I got my cigarette lighter in, found an old Volvo lighter to fit the socket with a knob that is not too far off. Working on getting power to it. The wiring under the dash is a real mess, fire truck you know. I put in another fuse panel with 8 circuits for the lighter, electronic siren, 2 way radio, electric radiator fan, blinking lights. All that stuff but the lighter was connected very haphazardly with wires and grounds all over the place. I failed to photograph the mess before I started, I will try to post a shot of it finished. (Notice how I got back on topic?)
