Many thanks to JoeM and WJohn for your help with getting the steering shaft out of the pedestal on my Dads 1944 WC. It worked great!

Now my issue is trying to get the new felt seal (top one) to go into the counterbore while it's installed on the shaft -OR- getting the shaft to go through the felt seal after it's installed into the counterbore. 

I can get the seal into the counterbore whiles it's off the shaft, and I can get the seal to go onto the shaft when it's out of the counterbore.....  I just can't get the two to "marry up"!

I'm sure the seal is supposed to be a pretty snug fit so there are no leaks, but there must be some trick to getting it to go together. The only thing that comes to mind is to maybe install a band clamp around the seal after it's installed on the shaft, and tighten it to squeeze the seal so it would slide into the counterbore while on the shaft.

I figure one of you guys out there has the answer!

Thank you in advance!