The van goes really well, engine is great as is... the only weird thing is when going slowly over bumps the steering wheel seems to shake a bit like it is loose! ...I am guessing something is loose and getting warnout in there.
The other thing is the brakes squeek a bit when going slow and braking... he said the pads are still quite good but need replacing pretty soon - so maybe they need replacing NOW!? Better have a look ASAP!
i find a lot of loose steering wheels can be the steering 'ujoint' should be right above rack. one you cannt do yourself can get to be $200 or more in work & parts.
...the guy I just bought it off HAD a 1.9 TD in there, and he very much preferred it!
thought you had said it may have been a 1.9tdi, i suppose it could also have been an aaz i guess appropriately it would be a 1.9 td idi. a 1.9 m-tdi hopped up would be snicce
as far as the brakes, as i outlined before, things like good rotors, possibly vented would be nice, good calipers, i like new, add some sport to them, you wont be sorry if you set up brakes right, you never know when youll need them; good pads, i like semi-metalic pads, used to buy them from repco, clean all braking surfaces when assembling. other new stuff may/includes master cyl, new flexible lines, i like the stainless braided types. rears; either new or work the drums you have back there, had drums for the rear rite? new rear brakes, thats shoes then springs&cylinders, have fun with the spring assys, take a pic of springs or like what i do, cause everytime i tend to forget which spring/lever went where, i have both rears up and open so as i disassemble 1 side i can now look at the other side for reference. if the smaller springs cannt kick your asz, and getting the parking brake can be a little chore, try on that big lower spring on for size!heheh

can take some work, the right tool, and some leverage. clean all brake surfaces when you assemble, again. check on wheel bearings that you dont upset your alignment, rear and front, if you can just pop them out, maybe its a good idea to swap new ones in, i like sk,or fag bearings. got a bonnet i can use a grease gun and a few pumps and you grease the inner portion on bearing, use extra grease for rest. youll need a punch and metal hammer and stuff like a block of wood to do the races, out&in.