Steering Box Ratio

I'll just add another opinion about the steering ratio. The 16:1 manual steering has some major drawbacks that folks seem to underestimate.

IF you want the quick ratio because you want to do "sporty" driving, you presumably also have a performance oriented suspension (which it sounds like you do) and likely performance oriented alignment specs, likely some aggressive front tires, etc. If this is the case, this steering ratio sucks IMO. I don't care if you have arms like Sgt. Slaughter...yes, steering effort is the problem but it's not just a matter of arm strength. The problem for me is that there is a certain amount of slop built into the steering system in these cars and because of this, there are a few degrees (often quite a few degrees with worn steering parts) of "dead" steering wheel travel at any time. If you want to make quick or precise steering inputs, this drastic change in steering effort from basically nothing to super heavy is unpleasant even after you get used to it. It feels un-sporty and unrewarding, imprecise, and sloppy. Any manual steering box will have this to some extent but the extra effort required by the 16:1 presumably exacerbates the problem.

If you have stock parts, stock-ish tires, stock-ish alignment specs, and mostly just cruise around town, the steering system in these cars is fine. The 16:1 ratio is even fine. Then again, so is 20:1 or 24:1 for this purpose.

Honestly, I would just stick with whatever you have, freshen up everything else and drive it.

My experience will be on the extreme end of this. I have modern 200 treadwear tires, 5 degrees of caster, a smaller than stock diameter steering wheel...but the problems will certainly exist in more favorable situations as well even if it is to a lesser extent.