Power steering questions - 68 Dart

When I got my 68 Dart, the power steering pump had been removed. The steering box is still there, but the previous owner just connected the two ports with a hose, presumably to keep out dirt.

I bought a power steering pump, but before I hook it up, I have some questions, mostly about steering play.

Right now, there is a lot of play in the steering wheel. I bet there is at least a quarter to a third of a wheels worth of play in the steering wheel.

So what causes all that play? Is the steering box bad, does it need adjusted, or will the play go away once the pump is hooked back up? Or is it some combination of all three? I dont know how a steering box that is made for power steering acts when it is not connected to a pump, so I'm looking to the experts for an opinion.