Abstract: A stuffing box for a high-pressure, reciprocating pump. A high pressure reciprocating pump has a mounting plate secured to the plunger end of a pump drive housing and a suction and discharge manifold hingedly connected thereto. A stuffing box in an opening in the mounting plate has a central bore receiving one end of the plunger and forming a plunger pressure chamber coaxial with the plunger. A tapered packing assembly in the stuffing box surrounds the plunger in sealing relation. A suction and discharge valve cartridge in a valve cavity in the manifold block is coaxial with the plunger. The stuffing box includes a body and a sleeve. The body includes a longitudinal socket having an inner surface with a taper extending longitudinally a predetermined distance. The sleeve is disposed in the socket of the body. The sleeve includes a bore longitudinally disposed therein configured to receive a plunger of the pump.