Something doesn't look right

[36 ford]

I pulled this out of my 59A with aftermarket pump stand. It measures 9" and what a clatter it made.
What would the correct length rod be? This one has been drilled out to accept the end piece and it's bent and dented.
Here is the setup which complicates the solution. I have an old Edelbrock
Hi-rise 2X2 manifold with an aftermarket stand. The manifold was ground down for fuel pump clearance.
Since the length of the old modified rod was 9 inches would an 8.87" rod be the solution?