How tight should the side bearings be

I think one of us is on the wrong track. The side adjusters don't "torque" they slide the cups in and out and set the bearing preload. You don't need the exact year manual. In the pdf I have for 73, it's page 3-29 and on for the 8 3/4 This is from page 3-42 of the manual: and is the gist of the preload part of the setup

So follow along: You get the caps set in place and snugged up, and you adjust them so that you have .0005 -- .0015 BACKLASH at the smallest backlash point. In other words you get the side bearings to "zero lash" and then move both adjusters equally one way or 't other to establish the backlash specified

Now read on.......Nex........you adjust ONLY the "tooth side" cap so that backlash is INCREASED out to .006--.008 at the smallest point. You are at this point ONLY adjusting the cap FORCING the ring AWAY from the pinion and simultaneously LOADING the two side bearings.