I'm currently restoring the rear end in my 57 Plymouth (same rear as your 61). John Krunkel is right, the stock bearings are great, if bad or rusty just replace them with oem replacements. Tappered axle rears get a bad rap for having the drums you have to use a puller to remove, it's a pain but with the correct tools is a breeze. When I did mine the hardest part for me was the learning curve in pulling the brake drums off of the tapered axle rear, they are usually tight and stubborn to come off. I learned the hard way that you need to use the correct puller to remove them, if you do it's a piece of cake. Use the Les Fairbanks puller....PERIOD! You have to pull evenly on all 5 lugs or the drum will bind, I used a 3 leg/lug puller the first time, the drum came off but it required a sledge hammer and was VERY difficult, not good on the drums or axles.
Fairbanks Puller