That makes sense and is likely. This is what was in the car. There was a length of solid round stock welded to that end joint and attached to the column with a tubular sleeve which had a roll pin and bolt.

They installed a rack inside the k-member. Needless to say it was hard to even move the wheel. Note the aluminum tab that was used to mount the hemi.

By the way this was a drag car that I'm putting back on the street - a job not for the impatient !