Oil Adapter Question

[91YJay]

Hi All,

Before someone flames me for not searching, I have, exhaustively. I unfortunately can't find the answer I'm looking for.

I replaced the engine in my 97TJ but the engine came out of an XJ (not sure what year, I think 98). It has this funky L shaped adapter on the oil port of the block that points the oil filter towards the back of the engine. I have found every article in the world on how to fix that adapter (the O rings) but i need to know if there's a way to remove it all together.

I am planning on remote-ing the oil filter to the fender well by the air box and that adapter needs to go. Aside from the fact that it's leaking, it's easier to put the plate for the remote filter set up directly on the block, but it looks like if you take the adapter off, there's no nipple coming out of the block to attach a filter to.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.