Ok here goes. I did a suspension upgrade last year with UMI upper and lower control arms, Eibach springs and Bilstien shocks. Also complete steering overhaul new Moog everything and a reman box. I still have loose feeling between 11 and 1 o clock in the wheel. What gives? Tried to tighten box a little to no evail.

Look at the fiber couple that attaches to the steering box. A lot of people do away with this by installing a Jeep intermediate shaft or one from a (I believe) GM Astro van.

Could be the rag joint pointed out by Richie Cat. Have someone saw the steering wheel while you feel the rag joint. Some of the play might be comparing oid school Saginaw recirculating ball steering boxes with modern car rack and pinion designs. Some on center play is part of the design.

Forget to mention brand new intermediate shaft . Only thing that i haven't replaced is the bearing at the firewall.

If there is no play in any steering components then the only place it can be is inside the steering box. I replaced my box many years ago and it helped reduce on center play..but there is still some even though everything else is new. I am also using a Jeep Cherokee intermediate shaft.

I too use a Jeep shaft and adjusted my box as tight as it would go without binding . Still have "slop" from 11 to 1 on the wheel. Could uping the pump pressure help? I don't know.

I notice the slop in my car even more since both my daily drivers are modern rack and pinion steerers. The MCSS is a public pay phone compared to the smart phone.

It might be worth it to look at the steering bearing again, just replaced my intermediate shaft this last wknd it fixed it. Like you i had replaced the entire steering linkage, (with help from 1984SS355) but
still had play, but the Jeep shaft fixed it. Could be the spindles too, but i doubt it, i just know mine were worn and caused small play also. HTH.

Try really tightening, even if you think it is tight already, the steering shaft coupler at the junction with your steering wheel shaft. By the brake booster.

Has anyone done this conversion?
http://www.unisteer.com/new-products/78-88-gm-g-body-rack-pinion-kit.html

Upflying - Jegs used it on their Aero build in June. This system avoids cutting a hole in the frame, but uses a couple more u-joints which concerns me to go around it. Take a look at their videos. Love to hear from others. Then again, its another $1600.
Gordon

The play in my friends front emd was a few issues. Intermidiate shaft rag joint was worn amd pivoting in the mount . The steering gear was loose and front emd was worn. We replaced balljoints,all the front end components and tweaked the steering gear and from What my friend said (termontenator1986ss) it is tight amd drives like a new car . Loose front end can only be a couple things. Unless your steering gear is not a ss box . My friend had a 79 monte and the wheel was stuoid easy to spin but no play .

The steering box deals with steering ratio not because of slop in the steering system.

A worn, loose on the frame or improperly adjusted steering box can allow play in the steering.

I went through this with my Grand National. I replaced the entire front end, the steering shaft and adjusted the back lash in the box and still had play/movement in the steering wheel. It turned out to be the tilt pivot point in the steering column (not the typical screws that come loose and they were tight).
When I removed the column I was able to hold the lower shaft and the upper shaft (wheel removed) at the same time and found the slop. If you take the steering column apart you will find the tilt portion of the shafts are separated with plastic which wears out. That was my problem. I ended up getting another column and solved the play/movement.
Obviously if you don't have a tilt column then this would not be your issue.

gnvair, this sounds like my problem . ( as I have done all the replacement and adjustments mentioned) I seem to be seesawing my car going down some roads. I am looking at the TRZ adjustable column as I would like to set my steering wheel closer to the dash some also. Also I don't care about my car looking factory as I have gone way past that lol.