thats what im thinking.i figure dry rotting might have happened due to the car sitting for almost a year in the elements with no fluids

 

The hard line on these things is natorious for springing pinhole leaks. One way to check the hardline is to cut the wheel all the way to one side and start the car. If the hardline is leaking and theres some fluid in it it'll usually be squirting out of the line and its usually pretty obvious where the leak is. You make have punctured one of the lines near the power steering rack while pulling out or putting in the new motor. I know when I was pulling out my KA they got in the way a bit.

 

From how you're describing it, it sounds like the rack itself, in which case the rack will need to be replaced.

I don't know if you can get remanned ones, or how much they run, but there's always the junkyard.

 

thats why i think it may be the rack because there is fluid nowhere else under the car just on the ground and it leaks fast so its not a pinhole leak