i have the death wabble. i had someone move the steering while parked and noticed a lot of play coming out of the sector shaft. is there supposed to be any play? or is this an indication that the steering box is bad?

also i have read that there is an adjustment at the top of the box. what does this do?

 

The box has wear in it. Sector shaft play is adjustable. There is a procedure to do this but the basics are:
1) Remove the I-shaft from the input shaft on the box.
2) Loosen the lock ring with a punch holding the adjusting ring in place.
3) Using a spanner wrench (I use 2 narrow tip punches) tighten the lock nut and loosen it back a bit (I don't remember how much "a bit" is - I tightened mine snug and left it there)
4) Replace the lock nut without turning the adjusting ring
5) Reinstall the I shaft.

A DSS also helps eliminate sector shaft play.