remove engine oil cooler

[kikkegek]

hi guys,

my cooler lines from my engine oil cooler are leaking on the flexible part.

I have a Heavy Duty edition of the K20 Suburban, but dont haul anything nor intent to haul anything with it.

So I decided to remove the EOC.

Can I just unscrew the oil filter and adapter that connects the cooler-lines and then just screw a new oil filter directly to the engine?

Somebody told me I need to get an adapter to put between my engine and oil filter? The function of the adapter would be to bypass the filter if it gets to dirty?

I have searched rockauto, but cant find such a thing?

so:
1. can I just screw a new oil filter directly onto the engine?
2. if no, where can I find such an adapter?