OK, I've decided it is NOT the brakes. The resistance is felt in forward or reverse and is not slight. Significant.

My next theory: I had trouble with the axles and the shop that built my rear end while we still lived in AZ. When we got here and I drove it for the first time I had almost disastrous trouble and immediately called the AZ shop. He said two different sizes go with that rear end, he must have put the wrong axles in, and sent me the correct size (slightly longer). I did the install myself - something I was not comfortable with, but it seemed to go OK. I have not driven it since, so I'm guessing that's the source of my trouble.

Can you think of a mistake I may have made with the install that would account for this binding in F or R?

A VW guy trying his hand at a '59 LB fs. Lots to learn, but it's about the journey.