I am sure what's you have the rod out, or find one cheap online or at a scrap yard, we should be able to figure it out.
If you have your cover off, measure from where the plate would be to the top of the spring, maybe cut the rod, get a die a thread the rod, put on a coupling nut, and can thread a new rod into the coupling nutt.
Or cut v groove and weld a new rod on, grind smooth.

Several options.