No, the overall length isn't the issue, it's the distance to the tapered section of the rod that would sit in the jets when the power piston was in the down position.
Use the correct parts here, early carbs get the longer rods, later carbs get the shorter ones. Most SMAB use "M" series and the others use J, K, L, and P for the most part. There were a few early units that got "M" series rods in them, late 70's CA emissions Olds units come to mind here.......Cliff