Date:         Sat, 16 Feb 2002 19:40:04 -0500
Reply-To:     Normand Gagnon & Sylvie Brunet <normandsylvie@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Normand Gagnon & Sylvie Brunet <normandsylvie@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Stripped oil drain-how to repair?
Comments: To: "vwcarlocks@HOTMAIL.COM" <vwcarlocks@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

We have since 3 years a spark plug as oil drain plug. The mecanic used
a reparation helicoil to fix the same problem (but in our case, it was
the time that made it). No leak, no problem (we made a 10000km trip
this year without any problem).

>I just got finished installing new heads on my '84 1.9.  Drained all the oil
>to get rid of the coolant that got in through pushrod ports.  Noticed the
>drain plug was hard to remove.  Tried to put it back in and it just slid up
>into the case.  Last oil change was at one of the national chains, and it
>appears they over-torqued it and it was just wedged in place.  New plug also
>won't catch a thread.  Should I just tap for next biggest bolt size I can
>come up with, heli-coil it, or what?  I thought about using some JB weld and
>permanently attaching the finger of the manager of the oil-change place into
>the drain hole, but his uniform doesn't match my paint job.  Any other
>ideas?
>Thanks,
>Steve Sandlin
>Steve's Lock Shoppe
>'84 Wolfsburg Westy
>'79 Kombi
>'00 New Beetle

Normand Gagnon
NormandSylvie@attglobal.net
Westy GL 85
Jetta 98