[bobH]

A note regarding the 9-inch.... I'd be careful about the assembly of the axle bearing and retainer ring. I'd be using a press, and I'd be watching for a proper press fit (observing the press gage). My reason.... that's the only thing holding the axle in. If that joint fails, the wheel/tire/axle will exit the vehicle while you are cruising down the highway. I've seen it twice... Once it happened to me, and my vehicle slid to a stop riding on the backing plate. The left rear wheel/tire/axle went across the highway and over an embankment. The other time, it was a customer car, a 41 Ford passenger car. The fender prevented the wheel/tire/axle from exiting, and it tore up the tire and fender.
I wouldn't be heating the bearing, or the retainer ring.
(Of course, if this failure occurs with the original brake system, the brakes fail too, since the brake drum also exited.) (This could be a vote for disc brakes, as disc brakes will prevent the wheel/tire/axel from exiting.)