Its normal for the fluid levels to change when you turn. If it's overflowing you have too much fluid in the resovoir. Use a turkey baster to take some out. As for hard steering. You might have the ram hoses backwards. Unhook one end of the ram to tie rod or axle and see where it's extending versus where you are turning. Be careful if it is hooked up as the ram has enough strength to shear the mounts off if the lines are backwards.
It was stiff but never hard or binding. Heavy would be a good way of describing it. Are you tires off the ground?
What size ram are you using and are you using the stock pump or PSC pump? If there's air in the ram it will extend slower than your steering which will cause that stiff feeling. It also happens if you use the stock pump but I don't think you are?
1.5 or 1.75 ram? That's normal. The stock pump only outputs so much flow. Mine is the same. Very light at first but when I turn quickly it gets heavy. I did the pump mod as well.
The port on top of the box - Which side of the ram is that mounted to? I'll check mine for you.
Same here. Top of the box to passenger, side port drivers. Sounds like you have them in the right orientation.