Smitty,
The piston in the box is bottoming out, both ends. I would have thought something needed lengthened instead of shortened. Like the Pitman arm. These kits have always been OK. No turning radius issues I've heard of. What do the folks, that have advised you, say is the reason? I don't think a steering box would be the limit unless the drop screwed everything up. Did anybody without a drop have this issue? Going to take some more googling by you maybe. Too many variables to cypher without seeing it all together. Not worried about the welding. Welds are stronger than the parent material from a pro. That is a non issue in your case. Hope you can figure it out or just don't turn sharp.
