Power steering problem

I have an issue with the power steering in my 72 Chevelle.

I believe the problem is with the gear box. I think it might be worn out due to the fact that there has been a leak in the reservoir for the past couple of months. It feels like there is no power steering at all. I dislike the current set up right now, because the belt that runs to the power steering pump sits too close to the current gear box.

Any suggestions?  

If you are totally not happy with your current system, you can convert to a rack and pinion type configuration obtainable through Flaming River (www.flamingriver.com). While this can be pretty expensive, it is an alternate way to turn your '72. Is this a big block powered Chevelle?  

No it's a small block  

Ok. When you're driving your car, is the steering wheel tight, or does it have a lot of left-to-right play without the wheels moving?

You said you had a resevoir leak on the power steering pump. Did you keep the fluid level up though? How often did it run dry? Does the pump squeal whine you turn the tires with the motor running when the resevoir is full?

Have you thought about replacing the whole power steering pump first to see what that does?

You want the pump close to the steering box, that way your power steering liunes are shorter, and away from the exhaust. Believe me, the engineers who designed that system put that pump there for good reasons.  

When I'm driving the car the steering wheels is tight. I'm starting to develop bionic forearm strength.

I did keep level fluid, but it seem to leak quick. I replaced fluid about every 2 days. At one point all I had to do was to replace fluid and I drove and turned without a squeal. Then it got to the point that I would replace fluid and there was still a squeal.

I thought about replacing the pump, but since it been an ongoing problem, it might of screwed up my gear box.

The power steering belt is slightly off, should I replace the brackets, power steering pump and resevoir, first?  

I'd say go ahead and replace the pump. The box might not be damaged at all as long as you were keeping after the fluid level. A new pump for that car isn't expensive, and it needs to be replaced anyway.

See how it drives after you've replaced the pump. With that bad of a leak, the system probably couldn't make enough pressure for the power steering to work properly.

As for the belt alignment, if it's only a slight mis-alignment, and it's not throwing the belt at high RPM or under steering load, then I wouldn't worry about it.