I recently redid the front end of my 69 Malibu, including a new "quick ratio" steering box (I have power steering) from NAPA plus a new rag joint. I am pleased with everything except for the fact that I don't seem to have the turning radius that I used to have. The wheel won't turn enough to make a tight U-Turn, which ends up being a spectacle when I hold up traffic to make a three point turn. Is this likely just the nature of the steering box, or could it somehow be installed incorrectly? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Not an expert like some but from what I have read on here I would guess that you were given an incorrect steering box. Assuming BOTH directions have the same turning issues and given the fact that the output shaft is splined it's pretty hard to install incorrectly. I guess a great many will look right and bolt up while being vastly different internally creating what it sounds like you have. I would start there if things worked better before the upgrade. JMO

steering boxes have internal stops. gm installed different ones depending on the vehicle. either its a universal designed for everything or the wrong one

Have the stops either moved or removed, I got a new steering box and don't have stops. you will get to know it and not max it out. It probably would just hit your sway bar a little anyway.

Yup, wrong steering stops. Lots of folks think a steering box is "quick ratio" because it has fewer turns of steering wheel from full-left to full right.

Fewer turns lock to lock can just mean that the steering angles have been reduced with more-restrictive steering stops. Might have NOTHING to do with the steering ratio.

So, for example, a mid-70's Nova or Camaro has fewer turns lock to lock than a mid-60's A body--but--the steering ratio can be identical.

Thanks for the heads up fellas. I am pretty sure the steering ratio on this box is different, as it feels way more responsive and sporty than the original box did (i.e. movement of the steering wheel results in much more instantaneous direction change). If i remove the box, what sort of shop do you think would be able to change/remove the stops?

lee mfg