I found a used K&N intake 1533KP for $150. but I also see the ebay intake with a K&N cone filter for $89...and the KP on the K&N website shows almost 2HP less than the 1533. any thoughts on what would be the most bang for the buck in this situation?

 

common sense and personal preference.

 

there isnt a noticeble difference between the ebay ones and the manufacture's one. ebay would be cheaper and plus its a new filter.

 

ebay ones are hit and miss. Some have really good luck with them and save some money, others have fitment issues, or poor bracketing where they vibrate like hell or even fall off!
If you go the ebay route, just do your homework and find out where people got the better ones. If you decide on new K&N, go with the plasic tube one. Two reasons. First, the plastic stays cooler than the metal, hence the slight HP gain. Also (and I know this from personal experience, I have the K77) the metal tube really enhances the sound of the EGR valve fluttering. Annoying as hell. Not near as bad an echo with the plastic tube. The reason for the flow killing plastic "hat" over the stock TB is for a resonator to not hear the EGR. You remove it for performance, you get to hear the EGR working! The plastic tube minimizes the sound, the metal one is like a megaphone. Trust me...

 

not sure what the 1533kp model looks like but if its new and you dont mind buying a used fitler then its a good deal. but i love my 57 series K and N, mine is plastic and is really loud under hard acceleration, like when im stompin it up a steep hill its almost deafening but i love it. havent noticed any mpg gains sice its been so cold since i installed it. make sure it hooks straight up to the tb.

 

x2 on the 57 series. airram.com you can get it for 240 new

 

the KP looks like its comparible to the 77 series, its the metal tube one not the plastic K&N tube. that was the main reason i was asking, most of you have had better luck with the plastic tubes, but this guy was asking $200 and said he would take $150 for the K&N with the metal tube. metal tube on ebay is $89, and this one is $150. I guess it would be a better deal if it was the plastic tube then, from what you guys are saying...glad I asked.

 

I was at autozone yeterday and saw another washable Hi-Flow air filter that looked intersting for $34. I beleive it was called Spectre, but I may be wrong on that.

 

They are the one's that have been advertised on the Powerblock lately. I believe they also make an intake as well as the filters, might be the same as the 3rd Strike Intake but I am not positive about that.

 

I don't know about the 3rd strike intake, But there were CAI kits there, Kinda DIY type you can peice the sleeves and elbows together to put the filter where you wanted it.