My '97 Cherokee has an oil leak in the oil filter adapter. said adapter is won't come out. The torx screw that you use to remove it is stripped round. What I need to know is if I take an angle grinder and cut 1/4 inch off of the end facing the frame rail will I be able to remove it?

 

My opinion is you'd be better off welding a nut to it and removing it that way. You may (probably will) melt some aluminum, but the heat will help as well. I've removed rounded wheel lugs using that method.

 

Thanks, I was running out of time, so in the great words of Frank Sinatra I did it my way. It took a little more than 3/8 of an inch, but it worked. Have never seen one frozen like that before.

 

I feel like I'm going to regret this, but three eighths of an inch of what?

 

I think he is talking about cutting the oil filter adapter off to back out the screw;





I wrote a how-to for the oil filter adapter and gasket in the in the CF info thread but it's no longer a sticky for some reason.
Most common way to remove it is to cut the adapter just past the red line in the picture. You need to cut it inside of the shoulder, so cut as far in as you can. I think it is cast aluminum so shouldn't be that hard to cut
The oil filter will then slide off leaving the bolt in the block. You can either use vice grips to turn the screw out or maybe a screwdriver in the oil passage. There are some reports of the factory using red loctite so you will want to make sure the engine block is nice and hot, or use a torch.

See this thread for some more info;
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/new...3/#post2769731