thanks GAZIM...I tried the adjustment on the box..I think it is just about all used up...I tightened it up some but I started noticing a thumping sound after that when I turn the wheel hard to the left...it seemed to go away some when I backed off the adjustment some. I wonder if I could get away with replacing the guts vs the whole box since the guts are pretty cheap..a re-man steering box is around 2 bills at LMC with like a 70 dollar core I think...looks like a better deal than going piecemeal..

irt the ball joints I don't have a torch or a pickle fork..I imagine one could be bought reasonable but the torch is something I would use so little it would be hard to justify probably...back in the mid 90's I had to have upper and lower BJ in a 63 GMC 3/4 I had and it was expensive even then...the parts were cheap but the labor was high...unless I just got reamed...I know I have several things that need attention in the front end but I am limited in knowledge and tools for that area...