Brent has suggested this and I must agree with him:
This gets tricky if there is a letter designator at the end.  Many parts
searches will simply drop this last alpha character.  I would suggest
that
it be used with or without a space, since a search for "251 407 361"
would
also turn up "251 407 361A"
-----------------------
In response it comes down to the user placing an * at the end of his part
number.
This should yield the proper search results.
-----------------------
Input like yours is exactly what we need to make this site work for
everybody.
These instructions will be added to the search page instructions.

Thanks
Stan

On Tue, 4 Jun 2002 08:39:37 -0700 "Brent Christensen"
<sbsyncro@hotmail.com> writes:
> Stan:
>
> I realize I am chiming in late on this subject - great idea!   I
> have a
> comment about the representation of part numbers.  Most places
> (inlcuding
> parts houses and the dealers themselves) represent these part
> numbers as
> three sets of three numbers with a space between them: "251 407
> 361"
>
> This gets tricky if there is a letter designator at the end.  Many
> parts
> searches will simply drop this last alpha character.  I would
> suggest that
> it be used with or without a space, since a search for "251 407 361"
>  would
> also turn up "251 407 361A"
>
> The reason I bring up this point is that let's face it, most people
> won't
> read the directions, and will use the convention that is most
> common.  It is
> by suggestion that the more common convention uses spaces.
> Therefore, the
> explicit instructions should probably follow the common convention.
>
> My $0.02
>
> Brent Christensen
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Stan Wilder" <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 8:03 AM
> Subject: FAQ Site Basic Instructions
>
>
> > The site below has some basic instructions for uploading and
> building
> > your contribution to the Vanagon FAQ site.
> >
> > http://www.blackhead.netfirms.com/www/example.htm
> >
>