Help With Manual Steering Box! There Must Be Another Answer...

[C10TN]

So... I've started fixing up my 66 stepside project and this forum has been a great source of information and inspiration... and I'm hoping to get a little more help now.

My steering has some pretty serious slack in it. Everything is pretty tight underneath and I'm pretty certain the issue is the gearbox. I've adjusted it all I can and still it's very sloppy. Logically, It seems like it is just worn out so I decided to replace it, but when I started looking around at them, I about lost my lunch! Local speed shop wants $370 plus tax and shipping. WOW! Looks like they are $299 at LMC. So my question is... since I'm sure that many of these old gear boxes get worn out, there must be another answer. Anybody have a source for these gear boxes that don't cost an arm and a leg? Is there a re-build kit for them? Man, nearly $400 seems like highway robbery. Is this my only option?

Any help appreciated.