Chevy Apex engine owners

[Plum Nauti]

There is a lot of info on this site about winterizing the GT-40 engine. For those of us with "the other engine" I would like to know the steps you take for your winterization.
I have a shower and heater (although the heater is by-passed currently). Are there any winterization steps unique to this engine?

This is a great site and resource !

Thanks

Plum Nauti

[Quinner]

Assuming the Apex is similar/same to the Excalibur, also a SBC 350, these are the steps specific to it:
Remove the following drain plugs:
(2) at exhaust manifolds
(1) at trans cooler
(1) at J-Tube (this is adjacent to the water pump at the front of the motor
(2) at engine block (port side will likely be your shower HW supply, starboard side may be a knock sensor), remove knock sensor or plug to drain, run shower pump until no more water comes out, cycling the Hot and Cold knobs on/off throughout

Empty strainer
remove 1 heater hose from manifold or water pump, using lungs blow in hose until all water has exited
remove and inspect impeller which will also drain

If using a suck-up method, replace/close all noted above, proceed with suck up method, run shower pump with hot and cold knobs both at 50% until a/f comes out shower head.

If using a pour in method, replace/close all noted above in sequence for pour-in method as described in owners manual. Also pour a quart or so in heater line if desired.

Be sure and follow ALL the typical winterizing steps, this is just the Chevy specific stuff

[Plum Nauti]

Thanks Quinner !

[Quinner]

BTW, plug at trans cooler can be very fragile, many prefer to just remove the hose to drain it

[Skidave]

Get these and make your life easy:

http://www.skidim.com/mobile/EASY-DR...ctinfo/MCM003/

http://www.skidim.com/mobile/EASY-DR...ctinfo/MCM002/

[Plum Nauti]

Thanks Skidave and Quinner !

[Quinner]

If you opt to get those drain valves be sure and probe those while draining as they will clog with sediment much easier. If using teflon tape/paste on the plugs at re-install do not use anything on the knock sensor and the knock sensor only gets tightened firm to snug, around 20ft/lbs iirc.