Play in rear wheels

To what torque are yur tightening the rear hub nuts?

If it's a '74 IRS rear they should be 250-275 foot pounds.  If they're loose, you'll feel slop in the wheel bearing.

They should definitely be tight, no play, if the bearings are OK.

If, on the other hand, the drums are not right for your hubs or the splines are worn, they will also act sort-of like worn bearings, giving you excessive slop when checking at the wheels.

Is the rear 36mm axel nut torqued to +250#?  Difficult to obtain without a TorqMeister or 6' cheater bar. If it isn't that tight the splines in the drum (or the axel stubs) could be compromised.

Gordon,

Does that 250/275 torque for the hub nuts also apply to swing axles?

I don't really know what the torque value was but I do know that when I originally put everything together I did use a cheater bar and stand on it with 220# of my weight. Should have been close. All the rear bearings are new.

Is there supposed to be a washer between the nut and the drum?

No, but if the snout of the drum is short, then you may have to have a spacer made up.

Carl, to answer the question you posed to Gordon,  ""YES""

Yup, that's my "Ghost Writer" answering for me when I'm not quite quick enough.  Fortunately for all of us, my Ghost Writer is right more often than me, too.....

The nut has a large built-in shoulder - so no washer reqd.