Not too far fetched...

There is a better solution(IMHO), the Navistar 2.8
powerstroke motor that the Brazilians get in their
Fords.

Of course trying to "get" one of these motors is the
real trick.  My brother was researching this for his
Ford Ranger as it is a direct bolt-up.

I would do one of these or possibly a 1.9TD before I'd
do a TDI (to complex and if it breaks in BFE you are
pretty well screwed).

The best diesel setup I've seen in a vanagon is Karl
Mulendor (sp?) Westy.  It's clean, reliable and has a
very cool functional Saab intercooler that looks as
though it was a factory unit for the vanagon.

Speaking of which, anyone heard from Karl lately?

Brian