Today I attempted to take the engine air filter out to inspect it for the first time since I bought my '99 a little over month ago. It has a large clamp style ring that goes all the way around the bullet shaped filter housing. I removed the bolt holding the housing to the fender and removed the clamping ring but no matter how much I struggled I couldn't get the filter to come out without fear of breaking something. Seems like this should be a simple job but it's not working out that way for...

What is the easiest way to change air filter on '99 GT?