The money part I can't answer for you, but it is a marked improvement over a factory box.
I'll take a stab at the money part.
I started with a Steer and Gear rebuilt box and it wasn't bad. I've driven cars with FF boxes too. FF does great work, but ultimately they're limited by the deficiencies of the factory box itself. The biggest drawback is the slop you get with the steering wheel at 12-o-clock before it starts firming up. The Borgeson box doesn't have this - it stays firm from lock to lock.
Advantages:
- 15lbs lighter
- 2/3 the size
- built-in 14:1 ratio, vs 16:1 of a stock box
- No 12-o-clock slop
Firm Feel
- Box: $360
- Core: $200
- Fast Ratio Pitman: $200
- Fast Ratio Idler: $90
With the fast ratio hardware you'll get a better 12:1 ratio, but it can interfere with some headers.
Total: $850 or $650 if you have a box to send back
Borgrson (Bergman priceing):
Honestly, whether or not it's worth it is completely dependent on what you're doing with the car. It is physically a much better box, but if all you're looking to do is firm the steering up with none of the other bits or worries of header clearance and weight then the FF box is half the price.
That being said though, even at the extreme end of the pricing differences, I would order a Borgeson box again without thinking twice.
