If you go with a piece of new stock you can either get it longer and cut it once in place or you can get another and attach the two rods with a threaded coupler. This will give you more leverage on the rod and have someone at the other end ready to snare it as you wiggle it around.

1949 Chevy 1/2-Ton
"Sedgewick"
In the Gallery
1989 Caprice