ironhead68, as waldo53 suggested, i did the same thing.
i needed a shorter drag link after installing a dropped front axle in my 57, so i cut out 1 1/4 of an inch, and tig welded together, even putting a small piece of pipe over the weld joint, and tig welding that also to the rod.
here is a pic of mine after modification.
http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view¤t=DSC01379.jpghope this helps..
leonard