MG Car Repair: oil cooler lin remval, c spanner, filter canister

Question
Need some advice, please.  Working on an early 67 MGB and low and behold, the oil filter canister was a pieced together item.  Removed the unit and are about t install Moss spin on adaptor.  Can't seem to get the oil line off the old base plate.  Will be easier to remove na viseif I can get the front hose off the cooler.  Appears that the lines have always been on and if i break the hose fitting I am stuck.  Looks like the rear hos fitting coul be even more fun taking off!  Called Moss and their experts said use a large C spanner, but were left speechless when i mentioned to them the fitting is BS!  Does anyone have a trick as to how to get the hose fittingsoff the engine withthe engine in place?  Tank you!  Carl and Susan

Answer
Hi Carl,
You are not making yourself clear. Do you mean you can't find a wrench to fit it or you can't seem to get to the hose fitting or do you mean the adapter that connects the hose to the block? The only dangerous part to remove is the hose from the cooler itself as they can be stuck and the cooler is aluminum and is easily damaged. The rear fitting on the engine block is all steel thus not easily damaged. If the rear line is stuck it may be necessary to remove everything around it so you can get a better angle at it with wrenches. Even though the oil filter adaptor is aluminum it is much stronger than the oil cooler and once the filter is removed, it is easy to pull it out where you can get two large opposing wrenches on the line to break it loose.

Howard