power steering

My father, a loyal GM employee for 43 years doesn't believe that they never offered power steering as an option for the 2nd generation vans. So I bring this question to the experts. Was power steering an option? If not, has anybody put power steering in their vans?
Thanks,
Jeff

Never seen one, or heard of one either, at least not factory.

Yes, PS has been retrofitted.....if you do a search you will find alot of info on it.

So someone with limited toolage and space probably shouldn't attempt it. What makes it so difficult to do? And Donivan, what would you charge to roadtrip to L.A. and do mine?

Here you go:
https://vintage-vans.forumotion.com/between-the-seats-g-f17/early-gm-power-steering-t3568.htm?highlight=power+steering
B.W.

My dad told me that GM uses an electric power steering system on new cars. This would eliminate the need for a power steering pump and belt.

I remember cussing at the manual steering in my first van back in the 80's when I'd be parallel parking or something. When I got my blue van I was really thinking I needed to add power steering. Maybe I'd gotten too used to power steering in modern cars but this blue van was really a bitch to steer.

Then I drove a buddy's low mileage Sportvan and it turned as if it HAD power steering! I couldn't believe the difference. It was a pleasure to drive.

I ended up learning two cures for hard steering. First of all, he had normal, skinny tires up front and I was running 70's. And he had smooth, greased kingpins and bushings while I had dry, rusty ones!! Just greasing my front end helped a lot. And right now, on my current van, I'm installing brand new kingpins and looking forward to some easy steering! (I'm hoping I can use somewhat wide tires though!)

So I say, before you dive into an elaborate PS mod, make sure you're not fighting some worn out parts.

WOW, thanks guys for the information. This will give me plenty to think and read about.