super stiff steering

That explains a lot. I think you hit the nail on the head. 16:1 with quick steer pitman.

Your original post said you just switched to a 24:1 box

was it new or used?

How do you know it is a 24:1 box?

If it is not can you get your money back?

I ordered a 24:1 box and that's how it was handed to me. Granted, I should have verified that ratio before installing it but I had no reason to think otherwise. I already have a buyer for this box so that pays for most of the FF box once that materializes.

My thought at the time was that if that 24:1 was too irritating I could pop in a fast ratio Pitman arm. At the time I didn't even know about the 20:1 option. But I never actually ordered a fast-ratio Pitman arm and this one might have come from my brother. Not sure. That will be a mystery I'm happy to ignore.