Steering box seals and other questions

[Jon Pike <jhpike@domain.elided>]

I had some questions about steering boxes..  the 77 Spider has the (?) 
Burman,  i.e. the recirculating ball type,  not the ZF or whatever that 
has a play adjustment screw on the top.

She came to me with the rubber plug missing,  no fluid in sight.. and a 
heavy layer of dirt on the lower half of the box,  and arm,  and general 
body area below..  which causes me to think,  the lower seal was shot, 
and the oil ran out thataway..  (and the PO who left the filler hole 
open to the dirty world probably should be shot)

I found out,   BTW,  that a rubber plug from a Vaccutainer (test tube 
they use for taking blood samples) is a pretty good fit..  some chem 
supply house might have them or a rubber stopper of appropriate size.

I haven't yet tried filling it up,  for fear it will be a pretty fast 
leak..  till I can find a fix.  I'm not driving the car right now..

I haven't seen any replacement seals for the steering boxes...  are they 
available?  How hard to replace?
If the box has been collecting dirt for unknown years.. you should you 
clean the interior.  How do you go about that?

I don't have a lot of play..  but a bit of clicking/thunking when 
cranking the wheel back and forth..  not sure if a few tie rods are 
contributing there..  
Thanks in advance!

Jon
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