I did a search on this, but I didn't find quite the answer I was looking for.

I have already taken the oil cooler off by unscrewing the main oil filter threaded mounting. But, I need to know how I can change the rest of it to accept a filter while not using the cooler. It looks like theres some sort of adapter plate held on by two bolts, do I just take those two bolts and plate off and it's OK?

I need to make sure I get this right so as to not oil starve the new engine when I get it all back together.


And if you're asking why I'm taking it off, there are two reasons:

1. Routing the cooler hoses from the water pump and radiator to the oil cooler is nearly impossible with the Vortech sitting right there. Or at the very least, more of a hassle than it's worth.

2. I've heard bad stories of oil coolers getting clogged and starving the engine of oil.......definitely don't want to go through with another rebuild due to spun bearings.

Thanks for any info!!

 

Yes there is an adapter. GM PART # 3952301 and you will need two of GM PART # 3951644 - bolts.

 

Hold on.......so I have to BUY another part just to eliminate the oil cooler? I can't just take the stupid thing all off and thread another filter onto it? WTF.

Welp, guess I'll be calling the dealer on Monday.....nice.

 

From the parts book, I did not see the spin on adapter listed with the cooler parts. Check what you have to see that there is not something there that might work.

 

Here is what I did,
1) Took cooler off.
2) Went to hardware store and bought 2 stainless steel bolts( 20 cents) the same size as the ones that came off, only without the stud on the head of them.
3) Replaced the part for which the oil filter screws onto using new bolts.
4)Put filter on.

That part was easy for me, the harder part was finding the correct hose going from the radiator to the waterpump. I musta went back and forth to the parts store 5 times!

 

I work at an auto parts store, and there's something still on the block that resembles an old style SBC spin-on filter adapter. Wish I could get a pic of that part number, I'd know for sure. Found the part number on GMpartsdirect.com, but no pic.

I think I found a pic of the bolts from the part number you listed, they look exactly like the ones that are already on there holding that thing on there.

I'll just pull those bolts and plate off when I get the block back from the machine shop and take a closer look. I don't know enough about the oil filter system to know what it should look like if it is going to work right, that's the problem here.

 

I just capped 'em off with rubber bypass caps, screw the hose.

Thanks though, I was thinking that's all I really had to do, but wasn't sure.