Stripped hole in air filter housing, can't get to filter, help!

[Jaxman]

I'd like to do my part to keep the ticking time bomb going but three different people have attempted to get two out of the four screws to free the housing cover. The remaining two have holes in the plastic cover that are apparently stripped, causing the screws to rotate freely without changing position. We've tried forcing the housing tightly apart to give the screws a "bite" but it doesn't work. Suggestions?

[gothstone]

Only real options are drilling them out, replacing with junk yard air box, CAI, or SRI. Personalty I would put a pod/cone filter on the end of the intake tube, add a bit of support and has a cheap SRI. That's what I ended up doing on my wifes. Mine is going CAI in March when money is less tight.

[Pooh Man]

what he said

[Jaxman]

Yeah, appreciate the answers and i'm looking into a CAI. There's no real way to get any dremel in that area to cut the screw loose without destroying the housing anyway. I considered getting a new housing or pulling from a wreck but it seems the problem wouldn't be solved the next time I needed a new filter.

[PoisonIvy]

Same thing happened to my previous '05. Just unbolt the housing from the body, and loosen at the throttle body. Think you have to remove one sensor wire as well. Took it to a work bench and carefully drilled them out. I was able to bolt 2 of the holes, and used plastic ties on the other 2. If I had kept the car longer I probably would have replaced it with a new one, but my 'fix' did the trick.