The engine that I pulled to put my Tiico in had the same fix.  More common than you would imagine.
John Andrew 1984 "Westiico"
    -----Original Message-----
    From: chrisadubs <chrisadubs@NETZERO.NET>
    To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
    Date: Saturday, September 08, 2001 4:22 PM
    Subject: A fifth spark plug?
    
    
    When changing the oil on my 86 Westy, I thought the drain plug seemed odd.  It turns out that one of the PO's has broken off the ceramic and ground the electrodes off a bosch spark plug and used it as a drain plug.  This is a new one to me.  It has been serving its purpose but I decided to replace it with a regular drain plug, 14MM x 1.25 threads.  Turns out the first 3/8 of the threads are stripped and the shorter threaded plug will not bite.  Do I leave the 'bonus' plug in?  DO those rubber drain plugs meant for stripped threads really hold?  I don't want to drain the oil all over I-81 on my fall trip to the finger lakes.  Any advise would be appreciated,
    
    Chris 

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