A good rule of thumb is to turn the steering wheel 20 times from stop to stop to bleed out the system. This is a million times easier if the front wheels are off the ground. Personally I turn 20 times before AND 20 times after starting the engine.

Although from your story it sounds like the fluid passage inside the box is blocked or something. Good possibily since there was no lines hooked up over the years. Maybe a mouse dropped some mouse food in there??

Sounds like you've done a ton to the car. Good luck!

Kyle