rear wheels (rear end) - harder to turn in reverse?

I had the back of my Dart up in the air with the driveshaft out. It has a 742 case with suregrip. I noticed the wheels turn easily going forward, but when turning them backwards/reverse, it's quite a bit harder to turn.

Is that normal?

Probably the brakes dragging.

Due to the cut of the ring and pinion yes it will be harder to turn in reverse than forward

If it's an automatic trans that's normal - you are turning partsbthat you normally wouldn't turn going in the normal direction. Next time you have an auto on the bench try turning the output shaft both directions and see what you feel.

Me thinks you may have a problem, I don't remember any of my cars having the same problems your having now with the drive shaft gone

Opps, missed the part about the driveshaft out and being hard to turn.

Pray that it is that!

I think the pinion nut has loosened (again).

Yep, the pinon nut had loosened. I put a new nut (a "stover" nut) back on tight and now the wheels spin freely forward and backwards.