With old cars, I'd be inclined to use something like a 90W-140 gear oil.
Most every 8" rear I've worked on has needed new pinion bearings and a speedi-sleeve on the yoke.
If you notice that the howling noise only occurs during deceleration, then it is a good indicator that the pinion-bearing preload has loosened. Since you think you may have "messed up" the pinion preload I'd vote for that as the cause.