Ok, now I have been battling this for about a month now...

anyone who has my gen should know what I'm talking about...the two driverside screw heads rust up because of the design the holes hold water...eh. ANYWAY, I got them out finally the last time I changed my airfilter and that was when I noticed some shop stole my K&N, but back on topic, I didn't have the money to replace it with another $40 K&N so I just threw a FRAM in there....ok. So I didn't tighten the Drivers Side screws...i only tightened the passenger side ones because those don't rust...and about a month ago I hit the 12k fram airfilter change interval and realized that omfg, SOMEONE tightened em...and about the only way that could have happened was when I had my trans serviced...but I took it to them and they are like, well its not on us, is your rusty screws...so anyways...no the heads are COMPLETELY stripped out and the holes aren't big enough to get anything in there like vice grips and turn those bad ******...

now...I got another top section of the airbox from a JY...its screws are rusted too, just not as bad...the reason i got it was not for the screws...but it was because I realize I might end up destroying the top of this airbox...

so...how should I go at it? just take a claw hammer and go friggin nuts on it?

help, thanks.

EDIT: also, I might add this is getting urgent...my performance is dropping, i can feel it...and i went from getting 24-26 mpg avg tank to what my last fill was...19...my car is sucking gas like an SSEi!!!! help!

well mine were completeley stripped too but i got a biggggggggg philips bit out of my toolset and they came off with that, you might have to drill out your screws if theyre bad enough.

Put the cutting wheel on the dremel.. cut around the screws.. remove top.. use whatever to get bolts out..

Put new cover on..w/new bolts. Put duct tape over holes...

Just use a long straight dremel cutting bit to cut a slot in the head and just use an appropriate flathead [probably huge]. Go to the hardware store and pick up some new ones of similar thread [it'* plastic so it'll just conform to the screw]. Doesn't need to be stainless, because if it took 15+ yrs to rust to nothing, chances are in that time you can get some new ones or won't even own the car.

well the thing is....I have a goot top airbox...but all i really need is the screws...and I just got these out, so I know they come right out...I am gonna run over to the hardware store later and go see if they have these screws brand spankin new....

Pics below show the screws and the airbox I got from the yard. I took out the IAT I got from the yard because mine works fine, but I kept it just in case.

But if you have good screws Don, do let me know, because I highly doubt that the hardware store has these screws...

also. OSG, i think you said you went at em with a big azz screwdriver? Well I got the right size on em b4..and i got one loose...kinda...but then the rear drivers screw i got a good grip on and put some SERIOUS *** into it and it would not burge and then the top completely stripped, so i know dang well that one is in there GOOD!!!!

Pics...

ok I got some BOLTS from True Value...they are the same size, now the only problem is if i can get it open.

Don: I wouldn't mind having those others as well, so let me know how much that would set me back.

I ended up just taking a drill bit that was approx the same size as the bolts and I drilled the heads off the bolts. Once I got the lid off, I was then able to take vise grips on the rest of the remaining part of the bolt and remove it.

Now THATS a good idea. thanks alot!!!