For the record, we didn't have any intension of trying to save the one axle shaft & drum. We were intending on saving the rest of the rear end. The goal on that rear end was to replace the brake shoes, brake springs, and the wheel cylinders. The other side came off without issues, we fought this side for about 15 minutes. We knew an axle shaft and rear brake drum were available. Cutting the drum was the fastest and easiest method we could find to solve our problem. We replaced both the axle shaft and the drum.

There was no concern about if we could apply enough heat heat to make it let go. We cut the drum into a center piece still attached to the axle (the cut was just outside of the axle flange), and an outer piece that the brake shoes run against. Then it was just a matter of getting the outer part of the drum off the shoes so we could remove the shoes. The one we ere dealing with the outer part of the drum was simply pried off with a couple of large screw drivers.

The Op just wants the center section of the rear end. Cut the drums just outside of the axle flange, remove the outer part of the drum (only the brake shoes are holding it, if its a real pain, cut the top and bottom of the outer drum and pull off both 1/2s). With the outer drum removed, access to the brake shoes is easy. Remove the brake shoes to gain access to the nuts that are holding the bearing flange onto the rear end housing (an end wrench is probably required), and pull the axles as you would a normal 8 3/4. If a torch is present, that is a 15 minute job per side.