engine and gearbox conversion for citroen h van

[ade61]

i have a 1965 H van which i would like to modernise.
i know that the following conversions are possible:

Rover V8 and Renault 21 Turbo box
VW/Audi 1.9 TDi engine and box
Volvo B230FB and Peugeot J9 box
Ford 2 litre Pinto(?) and original Citroen box

All these work with, i think , no cutting.
But, i don't want a diesel or a V8, the original box is the weak link and the J9 is too rare.

It obviously is a front-mounted north-south in-line configuration driving the front wheels, and the output (i.e. drive) shafts are below the level of gearbox input shaft.

What i'm thinking is 2005-ish VW/Audi Passat 2 litre petrol (not Turbo or FSi, to keep it simple) plus matching box. I'm assuming that the gearbox mated to the TDi (which i know fits easily) is the same pattern as that fitted to the 2 litre petrol engine (??).

Any other ideas?

[ade61]

thanks for the advice....i'm also told the REnault 25 had a transaxle and there may be adaptors to fit a Ford Zetec to it