16:1 vs 24:1 steering

Yeah 16:1 takes more muscle at low speeds. It's not noticeable when driving.
I have a factory 16:1 manual box in my 68 small block cuda. Hard to park.
24:1 in my /6 64 Valiant. It's too slow! Last week I had to make a quick turn and really noticed that it is too slow!

In my opinion 20:1 manual would be a good compromise. I have an original Direct Connection 20:1 worm/nut but I haven't installed it yet so no direct experience.

If you have power steering now, just remove the belt and drive it. I drove my 68 that way for a few years before swapping in the 16:1 manual. It felt exactly like the PS box without the belt because it's the same ratio.