Oil cooler unit leaking on a 1989 1500 P/U

Hello,
I have an 89 GMC 1500 with a 4.3 liter V6, 5sp standard, 2WD that is primarily used as a shop/farm vehicle. The truck has developed an annoying oil leak from the oil cooler adapter unit. I have checked the hoses and they seem fine. It looks like the leak is coming from the spot that the adapter unit mounts to the engine block.

I have been told by numerous people that I do not need the oil cooler and if I were to remove the two bolts holding the cooler adapter to the engine block I would be able to screw an oil filter right up in it’s place? Is this possible? If so, is it really that easy? Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

If the above is not true, and I find it hard to believe anything could be so simple, any advice on re-sealing the adapter unit would be helpful.

Thanks, Glenn

Fel-pro makes a gasket kit that has the O-ring and all the gaskets that you need to fix the leak. I think I paid $11 for the kit. The O-ring is what was leaking on my 90 K1500. I believe that if you want to get rid of the cooler (I am not recommending it), you need to bolt up a oil filter adapter in place of the oil cooler. This is not a choice on the 4x4 because of the front drive shaft but is an option on your 2wd.

//2000CAYukon

Thanks for the reply!
I got the seal kit for about $3.00 and my local (trusted) mechanic lists the job at one hour of labor to re-seal the adapter for a total of about $75.00 including tax.
I put the truck up on ramps and looked at doing it myself but the cold weather and the huge potential for having a large oily mess in my driveway convinced me to let the professional do it.

Thanks again, Glenn