On Thu, 5 Nov 1998, Michael A. Radtke wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I had the same problem last year.  I went the HeliCoil route and used a
> soft aluminum gasket.  I developed a leak after a few weeks, but I found
> the drain plug quite loose.  Tightening it fixed the problem.
>
> I matched the thread to the original drain plug, and it cost about $60 for
> the fix.  In looking for the correct HeliCoil, I came across a lot of much
> cheaper kits for spark plugs.  These are the same diameter, but a different
> thread pitch than the drain plug.  And, the kits are about $25.
>
> Has anyone used one of these spark plug kits, and made a new drain plug
> from an old spark plug?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike         '84 GL
>
  I did in my first 2.1 Vanagon. worked find.
                             Eric