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&g= t;
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 =