how much play should be coming from the gear box I have about 1/2 to a inch play.  My father had been driving the car with out power steering. He actually took the power steering a loose. S he had been strong arm in it for a while. could the gears be messed up in it?. will it be hard to change. buy a Used or new?

There should be virtually no play in a healthy box.  They are adjustable if they aren't worn too much.  Adjust it a little, and drive it.  Keep doing that until it binds a little bit, and back it off until it doesn't bind.  Then decide if you can live with that amount of play.

If yours can't be adjusted enough, the easiest solution is to exchange it for a rebuilt or a new one.  We have one NOS brand new unit left in stock.

I wonder why disconnecting the power steering helped.  Possibly the valve needs adjusting, too.

Larry

how much is the unit?

I want a new one. when my dad had the car he took it aloose so he could have more power because he thought the car would have more power be cause it had no power steering to run. I think he might have worn out the gears try to turn it in drive ways and around corners. That was to much work for me so I put it back together. I know the asist cylinder is leaking and I think the control valve. I guess thats why it feels like im driving in ice. 

If all those components are bad and worn, If you are not woried about stock consider the rack and pinion Steeroids, you will not be disapointed. It will replace all the Box, control valve and acuator.

yea rraider1 I would love that but my pocket book will not allow it. I read on one forurm that some one was blueprinting the gear box and said it would make a big difference.

ok im stuck in a ruttttttttttttttttt. The asist cylinder was easy to take off now im having trouble with the control valve. I unscrewed the bolt that holds the steering rod in the control valve. took the bolt off where it connects to the gearbox lever. I did not unbolt from gearbox large bolt. It still wont move. I can not get the tie rod off where it bolts into the steering rod. I used a pickle fork, I just tore up the boot. Still wont come out there either

We get $495.00 for the brand new one, and $250 exchange for rebuilt.  As far as your disassembly problems, it sounds like you are doing the right things, and the car is just being stubborn.  When you take out the cross bolt, the valve should unscrew, although they can be tight.  And the pickle fork is the best way to get the tie rod off.  Make sure you have the right size and taper, and give it a good whack!

Larry

say larry to get the gearbox out do you have to drop the steering wheel? I know it has two bolts on the side and then at the control valve

There are three bolts through the frame that hold the box on.  It then connects to the tie rods through the Pitman arm, which you transfer to the new box.  The steering column connects through the "rag joint", which is splined and clamped onto the gear box.