Thanks for the thoughts, but this thing IS GOING to get PS, one way or the other. I've inspected the axle bearings and greased 'em.
I MAY have found, a local yard "thinks" he has the drag link / cylinder setup off an older Ford PU. I'm supposed to check back with him tomorrow. He said "about 100" for the whole mess, which will give me some extra "meat" to weld to, etc.
The other thing about the drag link style, is that it will RELIEVE some pressure off the box. Hell, I might even spring for a repop steering wheel off "th bay." --40 bucks or so.