engine choices ?

hi everybody i am knew to the scene and am looking at a 1986 t3 panel van. rust wise it is fairly solid and all major parts are in tact the major problem is that the original engine was a 1.9 naturally aspirated water box engine which when the van was left for so long it seized solid and the seller of the van scrapped the engine and has a 2.0 litre petrol engine to put in it which is air cooled. which is not ideal for me. the good part about this is that everything for the water cooled engine for example the radiator and pipes is here so it hopefully could be a fairly easy job to run it as a water cooled engine. my major question, what hopefully can be answered is what engines can be put in the van and will they mate to the gearbox without any modifications and if it is possible to run a turbo diesel engine in it and how easy or difficult they are to install. furthermore the steering column is not present with the van so one would be needed to be sourced and i was wondering if anyone knew any good places or opportunities to get one. 

thanks for the advice i have heard about the Subaru engine swaps but not sure if that is the way i want to go. we have a syncro double cab with a 1.9 turbo diesel and love driving that with that engine. our main concern is if we were to get another 1.9 turbo diesel engine would it fit on the gearbox housing, or is there a way to check this before buying a replacement engine. i am also young so a smaller engine would be a better idea as insurance for me will be horribly expensive.

Just need the bellhousing and engine bars etc, the only thing I would say is that diesel and turbo diesels that fit easily are getting expensive. Tdi is a whole other kettle of fish because you'll need your gearbox rebuilt with taller gears.

Sounds like a possibility, you may even have the diesel bellhousing still? Pop a picture up but the easy way to tell is that the starter will be positioned a 12 o clock.

Check the code of the gearbox before you pull it, if it's half decent (roughly speaking not a normally aspirated box, which are dog toffee) you'll only need the belllhousing not a complete gearbox.

Not really but they are very low geared so your top speed or cruising speed is never going to be earth shattering. I personally wouldnt be pulling it out straight away, See if you can live with it. A second hand gearbox can be an expensive mistake unless it's from a known source.

if you need a diesel lump I've got a few for sale 

which diesel lumps do you have and how much please?

it's not a collection, it's a museum .. and I'm a curator.