My steering box has a little bit of slop in it, so while the engine is out of my car, now is the time to replace it. I'm looking at converting the car to manual steering to free up a little more room around my headers and for better road feel. What's the best steering box to go with? I was looking at the flaming river 16:1. Is there a better choice? I've read that some people were saying that the flaming river box added a bunch of weight since it was made out of cast iron.

Compared to the power steering system you are taking out the cast iron manual box is still a weight loss. It is only a weight gain if you already had stock manual steering.

Lares lists new 16:1 boxes, I can only find the 24:1 boxes now. FF has rebuilt boxes, for more than the new Lares box.

Another options to think on, consider the Borgeson power box KIT Bergman sells, he's got it sorted and it is smaller than the stock power box, not sure how it compares size wise to the manual box.

i use the factory alum box. good factory fit. I've seen the flaming river interfere with headers. whatever you do the steering shaft will need to be changed, modified, or an adapter used.

Seem to recollect that the stock six cylinder box had an output bushing, while the V-8 boxes had needle bearings. Not sure of any improvement or difference in strength.

a while back there were some new 20:1 manual boxes on ebay for around $220-250. Really wish I would've bought one, trying to decide if I want to convert to manual on my Coronet. Don't like the idea of 24:1 at all, don't like the idea of 16:1 for manual. Also don't like the idea of $700-1000 to convert to the Borgeson box...
so it goes...

I installed a flaming river 16:1 - I ended up regretted it

While it had great feel, driving hard on my favorite twisty road was problematic - very high steering effort required

I drove my buddies mopar on the same road with the stock manual box and it was much better - they had it figured out back then

Just curious, How much effort does the 16:1 manual require? I've had an issue with my power steering pump, so I've been driving mine with the 16:1 ratio power steering without the the belt hooked up. I'm assuming the effort would be the same right? If so, I have no issue with it, as the extra effort doesn't bother me now.

Power steering ratio is 14.7:1, a hair tighter, FWIW.

Been my experience that a nonfunctional power box is harder to turn than a manual box, but that was 24:1 manual boxes. My DD is a 51 Cambridge, which is manual, not sure of the ratio. It's not that hard to turn for me, but manual cars also had bigger diameter steering wheels for more leverage and less caster for less effort. So that may be the difference I felt.

I've got a 20:1 box in my '66 Charger. Got it from Firm Feel years ago. I like it!

Has anybody had any interference issues with headers when using the flaming river box?

I looked at a dart with a 440 in it, tti headers and flaming river box. ugly! one pipe was smashed almost closed to clear the box. looked like the box moves higher up in the chassis and in this case had big time header problems. cast manifolds may not be as big of a problem. anyhow, i'd do a factory box and not have the headache. aren't those flaming river boxes chevy boxes that have been "adapted" to bolt to a mopar k-member?

Yup..nothing beats factory oem engineering.

Wouldn't the 16:1 manual box require the same amount of effort as the factory power box with the pump not being used? I don't mind it at all with the amount of effort required. Just curious as to how much of a difference, if any, there is between the two.

Manual cars come with larger diameter steering wheels for more leverage and different alignment specifications for a bit of help with low speed steering, so no the effort is not the same.

...and I honestly thought I’d heard it all....

Why don't you go look it up then

I have been running the Flaming River 16 to 1 box for multiple years..
Yes, it does require some muscle when parking but on the road and moving all is well. Also if running radial tires this requires additional effort as well,
note that I did have Firm Feel build me 16 to 1 box that leaked badly and I pulled it out, installing the Flaming River box.

Just my $0.02...