GRM New Years Game 2020!!!!!!

EvanB (Forum Supporter) said:

I'm still checking my mailbox everyday hoping for a box. 

Yup, me too. 

I'm aware of 2 packages - 1 heading for Essexville, MI from csmith, and the other for Twin Falls Idaho from me... both are projected for Saturday delivery. 

My sleuthing came up dry, so the box is random & not targeted at you specifically.  Hope you enjoy!

Finally, here are my unboxing pics.

Basic unboxing tool. I was considering a cutoff wheel, but the kitchen was just cleaned up...

Wise words of encouragement. Thanks, Steve!!

Some socket holders, and a weird piece of metal with a story, it seems. I'm curious....?

Some fine screwdrivers...

And a great collection of stickers! I love the "cone touching the box" but already have the "do not dumb here" behind me for videoconferences. Some of the others will have homes soon. 

A selection of large patches...

and a NASCAR radio and GRM bottle opener lanyard. Any info on the radio? Looks neat. 

Camping stuff - firestarters, spork and pinewood derby wheels snatched up by my Scout sons...

An chunk fo flex exhaust pipe immediately grabbed by csmith.

Safety glasses. Always a Good Thing. I think even Martha Stewart would agree. 

A rolling ruler and magnifier

Unsure what this is for. 

Shift knob that will likely end up in csmith's Z31... but if it doesn't fit, will be set aside for the TR.

Toyota 'weeble' thumbdrive that's on my desk as I type this. My wife was worried what might be on it, but it was a blank slate. 

Valve stem seals and a Triumph horn button. Cool!

Missing from pics - a Toyota ball cap and another one. The "Extreme" post-its (under magnification) . Probably a couple other things. 

Many thanks!

In reply to Greg Smith (Forum Supporter) :

The weird piece of metal is a chunk of the belt from the wind tunnel I regularly visit. Imagine a band saw laid on its side that is big enough for a car to keep all four wheel on the blade. It is a weird material mix, mostly stainless, with other herbs and spices and a temper that makes it tough but very brittle. tunnel website If a belt gets damaged beyond repair they cut it up and sell it for scrap. I have a few pieces.

The scanner is a basic programmable one, so you should be able to set it up to get most any channel you may need.

The aluminum chunk is a rocker assembly from a wind tunnel project. Note there are 3 sets of thread types: imperial course thread on the pivot bolt/bearing assembly, metric fine thread, and metric course thread on the rocker inputs/outputs. You can imagine the rant when I discovered the "simple" solution required multiple fasteners and tools, instead of a single tool for assembly. It was used for a little while until we got the part done up the way I wanted in the first place. I have several on the bench at home, in case I need a doorstop!

The shift knob was a prototype for some limited production cars (Saleen). This was not the final design chosen.

I considered putting something on the USB stick, but decided against it...

Ages ago, a wild box appeared! A+ sticker usage, excellent selection and coverage.

Layer 1! A couple of license plates, and the first hint of a very sturdy inner lining - smart move.

Below that we have some pinstriping tape (sweet), racing sparkplugs (sweet), what appears to be a panel from an ejection seat?(!!), an air filter for a small engine, and an AC clutch for a 97 Grand Cherokee 5.2L (according to the box). 

Next layer! Some house numbers, a variety of bearings for unknown applications, some sandpaper, hot wheels!, a small socket set, a complete set of SAE flare wrenches, various electronics bits, a mysterious wooden knob like thing?, a GENUINE road bump thing?, and a mystery rattle wrapped in the quintessential red shop rag.

Which turns out to be lag bolts!

An excellent variety of stickers

The crown jewel of the box, really. This is hilarious because I got my wife to watch this for the first time like the day before the box came.

There was also this amazingly complete documentation for a 1994 Dodge Ram

Including the shipping order and window sticker

Here's everything all laid out. Honorable mentions to not one, but two pocket knives, a slightly worse for the wear foglight, a dipstick, a sweet CUSTOM badge (what should I customize?) and a very large mysterious bolt.

Thanks a ton, GRMer from GA (ultraclyde?). I apologize for not posting sooner, I was trying to wait to unbox until I got mine out but I had a really hard time finding a large flat rate box locally so I decided to reuse this masterpiece! Mine is in the mail today, bound for TX.

You're welcome man! You helped me clean out my shop!

So...there are items in there from every GRM box I've received in the past. In fact, I thought the stickers were so cool on the box I got last year, I reused it. The flare wrenches, the F&F tape, the dodge stuff, some of the decals and the hot wheels - all from other GRMers.

The ejection control panel is just that - given to me by a buddy retiring from the air force. Not sure what plane it was from... could be F-15, could be C-130, might be B-1

The wooden blocks are a french cleat set for something small. I made them to hang up seat cushions on my boat but that was an extra set. The dipstick is from a '97 5.0L Ford. the Road reflector is real, and the ac clutch was mostly for weight but it is a new part. The little roll of sandpaper is leftover from rewrapping a denim sanding machine line in a textile mill I worked in. It's vicious stuff. And who doesn't like license plates from the other side of the country? The "custom" script is from a 70's Ford "Sport Custom" pickup truck. The rest of the stuff was whatever I had laying around that looked useful. 

In reply to ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) :

Cool! I wondered about the wood blocks. You did an admirable job packing things in - this was a super full box!

It's been a rough couple of weeks, so this was a welcome bright spot. Again, thanks a ton.

Got back from picking up some metal and parts today to find a box!  Thank you to Ohio!

First look, its a bigger box than I sent out, I'm gonna have to step up the game next year.

First layer, buncha toy cars, a phone case, a card game, and some sort of thingie from Logitech

Stickers and more toy cars and a printer cable

Is this little guy autographed?

More stuff! Buncha headphone adapters, socket holder (sockets fell into the bottom of the box), a little puzzle and some pencils, some sort of phone charging system, throttle and IAC valve? Maybe?, a Knives of Alaska Featherlite Defender that was immediately put in my pocket (seriously, thank you for this, its just the size and type of knife I love to use,) a Saab emblem, a skooshy stress ball that my wife claimed, gears from a transmission I think, koozie, Sharpie, 25th anniversary Hot Rod Power Tour emblem, and a nice looking Invicta watch that got banged up some in shipping (I found all the bits, just need to put it back together)

A much nicer shop rag than I normally see, more stickers, a fuel/vacuum gauge, sockets, a Croc lanyard, a nice heavy lock with key, and a set of fiddly bit holders that will come in handy soon

And lastly, some more stickers (including a very Florida-specific one) and some magazines.

Thank you so much for my new junk!  

Also, thank you Hungary Bill for organizing this, it was so much fun participating

I'm days behind on posting, please forgive me, unknown benefactor!

Last year I think I opened my box with my antique Panamanian machete. Can't top that, but it's got to be something unique...

Hmmm. Looking around the garage/indoor pile of unorganized junk. Suddenly, I see the answer!

Home made hand gaff!

This came with one of my old Boston Whaler boats. Note the creative use of the GRM covers on the box!

Attack!

And we're in!

Awesome, and right on top: Who can't use a staple gun? This reminds me of our decades old Swingline office stapler. Really heavy, solid, and built to last. Built when it was expected that your kids would inherit your tools.

CarMax and Oklahoma plates. Are these clues to the identity of the mystery sender?

Next up: sanding rolls for a Dremel. Good choice, these are always useful.

Oooh, SCORE!

A half inch impact! And yes, I've got a compressor! The photo doesn't do it justice, it looks like it's hardly been used.

Deeper into the box, another clue? Do I stalk the reloading thread? Twenty two used 12 ga shells. I couldn't quite discern the lettering, but I think it said something like light target load. Skeet? Sporting clays? I'm a little out of my element.

The colored pencils were attracting the attention of observers. Who can't have fun with colored pencils? And, they came with a note pad, too!  

Big honkin bearing, no idea what for...

Handy "beverage entry tool", quite innovative design. Similar provenance to the shotgun shells.

AC servicing tools (and also an assortment of O rings). Just so happens that the AC is currently not working in my truck. Looks like I'm going to have to fix it myself, now.

Haynes repair manual for Ford trucks/Expedition, 97-99. Very GRM. No picture, we know what these look like. Instead, how about the biggest carabiner I've seen? It's going to be useful for something, I just don't know what yet.

I lose screwdrivers like they were 10 mm sockets. I'm good for a while now!

And then...THE MYSTERIOUS BOX!

Inside of the orate cigar box, some 1157 Silver Star bulbs, a tire gauge (good, I try to keep one in every vehicle), Hot Wheels, a set of googly eyes and more, plus a fantastic collection of stickers! I love stickers!

Here's an overview of the whole haul laid out for your viewing pleasure.

Overall, another fun New Year's box. Can't wait for next year. Thanks, Hungary Bill, and thanks to my unknown benefactor!

In reply to Mr_Asa:

some of that stuff (stickers, ancient vacuum tester, tweezer and mini pliers with lowe's clearance tag) went to your sender last year or the year before.  That may be a 2014 subaru legacy throttle body that went in the box after ebaying it proved unfruitful 

Greg Smith (Forum Supporter) said:

I'm aware of 2 packages - 1 heading for Essexville, MI from csmith, and the other for Twin Falls Idaho from me... both are projected for Saturday delivery. 

My sleuthing came up dry, so the box is random & not targeted at you specifically.  Hope you enjoy!

Hark! A GRM crate has appeared!!!

It came all the way from Waynesboro, PA!

A fine custom box such as this should be opened by a fine custom letter opener-

Layer one- contains Horsepower!!! Also, a neck light, and The Answer's book of Answers.

The Joy tin contained a well-protected (and delicious) cookie. 10/10 would eat again...

Layer Two- Ford lugnut covers, spark plugs, a water pump to who knows what, a light-emitting hammer, and a fancy wrench. Also, rust defense in the form of Barkeep's friend. 
 

Layer three- Hot Wheels!!!! My nephew will be pleased. Also, some sort of security system info... seems kinda witchcrafty to me. Finishing out the bottom layer of the box is a pile of brake pads and a mess of lug bolts, apparently belonging to a VW Passat. Fantastic stuff, Greg. Thank you!!!

So I can account for two of the remaining boxes; it didn't feel right to open the one sent to me until the one I was sending was on its way.  My outbound package should be dropping into the Seattle area any time now, so I can not feel guilty about opening my box.

So aside from a warning about chainsaw use not a lot to go on from the outside. 

First cut:

I won't tell the wife if you don't!

Inside, well, holy cow!

Where to even begin? Some great hook/latch/fastener options:

Some plug boots the El Camino could really use, electrical wiring and switches that are always welcome, a bottle jack, some center caps and valve stem extensions, just tons of stuff. 

One thing in particular that I hope works, because if it does it is going to be a huge help:

That little do-dad is exactly the right piece that I both need and didn't have to connect the output from my gear vendors overnight configured in gm pulses per mile to my dad's Dodge truck dash. 

This box also had some great stickers and even a unibit and some awesome magnets.

I kinda feel like I hit the grand prize this year and I don't really know who to thank.  There was this hint, though:

But I can't remember if it's just a receipt that's being passed around as a red herring!  

To whomever put this together for me, thank you, and thanks to everyone for lighting up a couple days of a generally crummy year.  Hopefully the recipient of mine will enjoy it too.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

Instead, how about the biggest carabiner I've seen? It's going to be useful for something, I just don't know what yet.

 

 

It's very useful for carrying a bunch of grocery bags from the car into the house.

In reply to oldopelguy :

Probably not a red herring since the receipt has a date.

I just tracked my parcel going out and the other day it said it was expected the next day, now the tracking says Delayed with no ETA 

Last bit of information I have is that it arrived at Usorda, USA at 9:02am on Jan 16th. I've now set to get email updates on tracking now so *hopefully* I can keep it posted about it's location.

So after the busiest two weeks at work since the pandemic started, and my package being delivered, I finally opened my box.  

A box that says "No Chainsaw"

Looks promising.

A coil, ECU and a rearview mirror, GM if I had to guess.  An F35 stress squishy thingy, double sided tape and superglue.  Tape and glue added to the "stick things together" locker, fighter taken by middle son, and other items recieved eye rolls from the wife.

Flotation device, assuming it holds air, snagged by middle son for trips to his best friends grandparents house, they have a pool and a dock with boat.

Flap disk, needed some more of those, awesome.  Wrench that has seen better days.  I think I will fire up my electrolytic rust removal set up and see what can be done with it.  And last a clutch pressure plate, I have a feeling that will move on to a new home next year.

Thanks for the stuff and to Bill for heading this up again.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Be sure to open the Phone charging box, probably still wont be useful but its not what it seems.  The Fiesta sticker is autographed, got it at Mid Ohio when the now defunct Rally Cross series came through in 18.  Patrick provided some of the stuff, I got the gears last year I think and the art box has been passed around for a few years.  The watch was not it great shape to begin with, I think the spring bar is either worn out or two short, if you want to use it let me know and I will send you a few in different lengths.  I forgot, the throttle body is for a last gen SAAB 9-3, I have a collection. 

Aaron_King said:

In reply to Mr_Asa :

Be sure to open the Phone charging box, probably still wont be useful but its not what it seems.

Oh E36 M3!  I thought it went with the logitech charging thingie.

Do you know what camera it is for?

I'll bother a local watch guy I know for some springs

In reply to Recon1342 :

my 14 year old made the chocolate chip cookie from scratch. His are amazing. 

In reply to Mr_Asa :

I ordered it from Shopgoodwill thinking it was for a Cannon, but it wasn't.  My brother said Nikon maybe. 
 

The Logitech thing is a rechargeable trackpad, no idea if it works. 

In reply to Aaron_King :

The box said no chainsaw because previous years saw a box opened with a chainsaw, and flywheels arent heathy for those

The ecu is a bosch l-jettronic unit out of a 280zx (a car ive never owned) the reirview is out of a Fiat X1/9. The floaty tube was new in box, but the box wouldnt fit along with it, F35 squishy was a freebie, coil is good, just a leftover. The wrench and flywheel came with a 2 pack of Fiat 124 projects, flywheel presumably belonging with the '76 that came with just the transmission, and the wrench was found under the rear seat stuck in the foam of same.

Glad that some of it will see use or be moved along, and things survived mostly intact, hopefully the wrench cleans up, I just didnt have time for it.

Recon1342 said:

EvanB (Forum Supporter) said:

I'm still checking my mailbox everyday hoping for a box. 

Yup, me too. 

Same here.

RedGT said:

Recon1342 said:

EvanB (Forum Supporter) said:

I'm still checking my mailbox everyday hoping for a box. 

Yup, me too. 

Same here.

Don't get too excited but I have it on good authority that "You've got mail" 

Hmmmmm..... My box was confirmed as received but contents were never posted....

In reply to wawazat :

Oh wow, you're good.  There is a box on the porch! Popped it open and rifled around and LOL'd at the grm track guide, i am SO tired of seeing that stupid friggin ad pop up in the middle of the screen here and it popped up in the box.  Proper unboxing pics this evening as i am working now.