Post date: Aug 8, 2014 2:23:03 PM
After teaching, but before I completed my two-year commitment with Peace Corps (1965), I worked for the Eastern Nigeria regional Peace Corps office on motor vehicles. Here are some notes I took about volunteers and their relation to four-wheel vehicles (Jeeps).
Funk in Ohafia - needs four wheels for work and doesn't like Honda (50cc) any more
Ciccone in Abia - for work - trying to arrange one privately
Spaulding - no
Crippens - doesn't like Honda
Wohlson - doesn't like Honda and is afraid of motorcycle
Ed Huckaby in Annang Province - for work
The Cameroon Peace Corps office was not pleased with their Jeeps. The director wanted to phase them out and give them to us in the Eastern Region of Nigeria. Here are my notes:
All left-hand drive - should be used only in the bush. [Nigeria, as a former British colony, drove on the left and needs right-hand drive vehicles.]
They have had no trouble with crankshafts. Oil and Filters changed regularly.
Two full-time mechanics, a shop, tools, and large store of spare parts. [We relied on local mechanics in Nigeria.]
Jeep frames and bodies have been welded and reinforced.
Spares ordered from factory $1,600.
Ten percent of vehicle value in spare parts.
6-cylinder, 4.2 liter engines. Are they more reliable? No. Less economical? Yes. Is extra power useful or necessary? No. How long required for delivery? 6 months. Do the new Jeeps ride hard? Yes. Are heavy springs necessary because of bottoming? or breakage? They break.
Kaiser Jeep Model F4-134 Utility Wagon.
Locallly: weld the horn bracket. Weld the [spare] tire mount on the tin-tops and back this with a plate.
Al Tubbs' Jeep had a cracked frame and needs 5,000 CFA for welding
Hank's needs generator-regulator set
Scarborough - chain, 4 tyres - small size with tubes