I've got a K&N filter in my stock housing. so can i just buy the open air and use that filter or is that one too small. i dont think its 14X3 cuz its inside my stock filter housing. also does the new K&N XStream top really help alot?

the top filter thing will only help if you can get the air in and then out...if you are using stock TBI and arent running headers i doubt it would help much if any open element and k&n should be all the flow you need for now

Too small. The xstream top isn't worth it from what I've gathered. The only time I personally would use it is if I had my friends 69 camaro with a cowl hood. He's running a carb and it's a really easy job isolating the cowl from the rest of the engine bay.
The idea of the xtream lid is to flow more air but it's also more turbulant. On the dryflow side (before fuel added) it's usually best to keep the flow as straight as possible with the least amount of turblance (just like exhaust). This is of course ONLY good if you've got enough fuel and aren't running lean!
Anyways, the TBI design doesn't flow very well from the top anyways. Just look at that injector tower piece! Not good. The open element lets the air come in from the infinit angle and is directed straight into the TB bores real smooth .
Worth the money, my opinion is no, unless you own that 69 camaro or would be able to isolate the cowl from the rest of the engine bay!

i guess ill be buying a open air without the XStream. does it matter which one i get just as long as i have a K&N in it.

doesnt matter just make sure you get a 14'' by 3'' with a drop base...i got the whole k&n setup but it really doesnt matter i just had to be cool and have a chrome air cleaner with k&n written on it

how will i know if its drop base, in the summit mag it doesn't say on any of them i think, but pep boyz has one for like $34 i think, its an edelbrock

read the fine print in the catalog. Next to them it will have a * or a +.
* means drop base
+ means wont clear electric choke with we have nothing to worry about. So ignore the +. When you run non-drop base you have to remove the TBI spacer ring, i like that better. When u run drop base, might have to do some rigging with the coil because it rests on it. I prefer non-drop. But im only running the 14 x 2.25 filter and its fine.
~TIm