whatever is stock.
I'm overstating it a bit ..but it doesn't matter too much !

yes..'in the old days' ..when ignition systems with points were much
weaker..
then it mattered more.
These days..
as long as the gab is not worn too large.. ( I just gap 'em down some in
that case , if they are not too worn )
or the center electrode too rounded..
I just leave 'em alone.

if there's one area of the whole system that is not weak in any way ..
it's the spark plugs ...
I have boxes of lots-of-life left-in-them Bosch and NGK spark plugs
removed from waterboxer  engines.
I hardly give them a thought ..
mostly 'they just work.'
Sometimes I run Platinums ....they're 'all right' but not a 'whole new
dimension' in my perception,  or anything like that.

some engines are rougher on spark plugs than others ....like from car
brand to car brand..
but ...that was say 25 years ago ..
In modern times..or in waterboxers with electronic ignition ..
I don't even notice them wearing much at all.
what is stock anyway ........028 to .032 thousands ..
just make sure the gaps are not too large ..as they do wear very
gradually to bigger gaps ..
and if the side electrode is thin..
or the center electrode very rounded off..
then they are due.

or if they are fouled and you watch one spark ..and tiny sparks jump to
the insulator or side, rather than across the proper gap ..
that's not right of course.
A plug doing that, I will either clean well or replace..
and sometimes I'll put on a new spark plug wire there too.

last line.........in the 70's I used to meticulously clean distributor
terminals inside the dist cap ..
I never even give those  a thought anymore ..
Electronic ignition is just so strong.
If you ever convert a points car or vanagon to electronic ignition...
it just 'wakes' up the car ....in starting and throttle response. - very
noticeable so.

On 3/8/2012 2:32 PM, Jim McGuckin wrote:
> Have an 83 1.9L wtb vanagon just seeing what people think is the best spark plug gap to run.
>
> Sent from MAC's iPhone