i cut a window through the brace. it didn't seem to weaken it. you could just drill a series of holes in a grid pattern on both side of the brace to help with air flow in the engine compartment.

 

What about the tube comming out of the filter airbox?? what do you do with that?

 

Are you talking about the tube, (hose) that connects to the outside of the factory air filter box? I have a K&N filtering system now and The new intake tube has an inlet for that hose on the intake tube. Is there another tube you are asking about?