Advice on rebuilding steering gearbox

I hear a lot about sending them away and paying at least $200 for the service and also some horror stories about what you get for this. If anyone has rebuild their own - where did you get parts? I have a SMB K box from a 1970 fastback with power steering (though it appears you could get this box in manual too). Also - anything to watch out for as I work through this? Doesn't look too tough, which makes me wonder why more people aren't rebuilding their own...

Thanks,
Rob

I redid the manual steering in mine two years ago. Hot tanked the thing and the parts. Did not take too long. Hardest part was locating an odd-ball diameter cone/cup which came out of the end someplace. Of 12 stores I visited, each place had a drawer for the item, but it was empty. Last store I visited had one, it had surface rust on it, and then when home with me.

Other item is that the factory manual specifies special tool to use here and there. I had to adapt what I had sitting on the bench. They also refer to using brand new parts, and torque values based such. I had to reuse many of the old parts, for no replacements could be found. You thus have to adjust what you read in the book with the tools you own.

It works fine now. No leaking too. Ready for another 100,000 miles.

Wm.

I don't think I'm going to do my own, but you may be able to get parts and or info from this guy. He seems pretty reputiable (and reasonable).

http://www.stangerssite.com/steeringboxrebuilds.html