While watchin' the season premier of "The Office" I started messing around and found a couple of locking tabs. With a screwdriver I was able to pop the locks, squeeze my hand into the air filter hole and pull the "snorkel like" end with the screen attached!! This can be done with the filter housing on the car.
Yes Virginia, there is another free upgrade you can do to you car.
With this piece removed, the screen can be removed more easily and the velocity stack can be reinstalled.
I also took a picture of the snorkel that's removed through the left intake vent, just in case anyone was wondering what it looks like.