Carburetor rebuild, Ford NAA

I have a Marvel Shebler carburetor on my Ford
NAA. I bought the kit to rebuild it. Everything
went well except when I got down to the new
seals that are expected to be used around the
throttle and choke shafts. I can't seem to make
the felt one (it is a washer like seal made
of white felt) or the rubber one fit properly.
They go over the shafts respectively, but do not
fit down in the opening. I put the throttle shaft
back in place with the rubber seal compressed
between the body of the carb and the lever portion
(part that connects to the linkage)and it seems to
seal against the body okay. I do not think it was
intended to be installed that way, though. When
it is put into the hole without the shaft it becomes so distorted that it does not seem like a correct fit. The felt washer will fit in the opening for the choke shaft, but is so compressed that the shaft will not pass through it. I must be missing the right technique.

By the way, this was my first carb rebuild. The
carb cleaned up nicely in the parts cleaner. I then sprayed the body out good with Chemtool B12
followed by some brake cleaner. Then compressed
air dried everything out nicely.
Installing the new parts was pretty straight foreward except for those darn seals.

Any help from any of you would be appreciated.

Best regards,

Tim, Ohio