What did you have it at the gunsmith for?
The aluminum rods were never pinned so a guy can heat them up a little and pull the insert right out. After you get the insert out you can cut the rod off and put the insert back in. I ALWAYS drill and pin EVERY rod I got from GM. My last one was fiberglass so I think it is ok. It is too long just like yours but I don’t think I am going to mess with it.
Have you decided to put the far speaker sights on it? Ron