Not to dissuade you but how do you intend to drive the car? If its quarter mile, run narrow front tires and hit occasional cruise in show stuff the stock manual box 24:1 is OK. If you plan to drive spiritedly in modern traffic, hit some back road twisties and run some meaty tires you might consider some other options. The 16:1 manual box might be an OK choice, but they are not cheap either and has its draw backs.
What steering pump do you have? The line pressure can be reduced to to get rid of the over assist and bring back that road feel.
I went from a 24:1 manual box to a Firm feel Stage 3 and 900 psi Saginaw pump and it feel like a manual rack and pinion in a light car (like a Pinto with a 2300) but there is enough assist to parallel park with one hand and not a pinky like stock and not both hand slapping at the wheel 400 time like a slow ratio manual box.
Its really going to come down to how you intend to drive your car.
