Before you start throwing money at this, go over the thing from the steering wheel to the tires. Several good comments above. Get a friend. Have them move the wheel back and forth, various speeds, and various amounts, but mostly just "taking up the play" and a bit more.
Start with the wheel to the steering coupler. Eyeball the upper shaft entering the coupler and the coupler itself. As the column shaft moves there should be ZERO visible play between the shaft and coupler.
Next look at the coupler body and the shaft into the box. Same deal, zero play.
Now look at the box and the K member. Does the box move on the K? "Should not!!" Have your helper move further, and examine the K box mount and the K proper. Maybe the welds are cracked, etc
Next look at the steering coupler and the pitman shaft. Should be very very little play between the two, there might be a little.
Next, look for play in the pitman end ball. There should be ZERO? delay/ play between pitman arm movement and the center link movement.
Now check all 4 tie rod ends, same way.
Then check the idler. There should be VERY little up/ down movement of the idler, and no play left/ right in the ball end to center link.
Don't discount tires. When driving, poor handling tires can make it SEEM like there is play. There is a TREMENDOUS amount of difference in tires.
Regardless of people who claim "these are old cars" "handle poorly" and the other bla bla, my car was a typical clapped out stocker. New parts, better tires, great big T bars and conversion to factory anti roll bar made a MARVELOUS difference in the way the thing goes around corners.
