After thinking about it I don't see how I could apply tension since the adapter is essentially a quill stem, good for locking but no star nut to pull up with.
I would ask this question again. Can you take a steel threaded steerer that is two short, install a quill adapter 1 1/8 to 1 1/8 and then use a threadless headset?
So let's see if I am understanding. You can take a short threaded fork insert a quill adapter use a threadless headset and clamp a threadless stem to adjust/tighten.