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Does anyone know the correct way to adjust the rear wheel bearings on a 1965 Chevy C50 single speed axle?

I have never seen any torque specs on the old axles for the pre-load and final adjustment like is specified for modern wheel ends. The old books recommended a socket the size of the nut and then use a 12" T-handle and tighten it "wrench tight" to preload the bearings and then back it off a minimum of 1/8 of a turn until you can line up the lock nuts. Then install the lock nut. After you are done, it should turn freely with no bearing rumbling feeling. This is the chart we use on our modern trucks.
http://www.meritorhvs.com/MeritorHVS_Documents/tp89159.pdf

You will note that they recommend considerably more torque than the old recommendations to stay within runout tolerances.

Tighten the inner nut so that there is some preload on the wheel bearings.Install the lock ring and make sure it is seated against the inner nut. Install the outer nut tight against the lock ring and crimp/stake the lock ring over. You can "move" the tab a bit to get it to line up with the cut in the nut. Hope this helps.

Thanks,I`ll give it a shot.

Depends what bearings you have, if they are barrel type you want them a little loose 1/8 is not enough for nut back off, as was said tighten wrench tight to seat seal,bearings, then back off 1/2 turn,maybe more a little loose is better than a little tight, place lock and outer nut tight,then check rotation and if there is any slop, the outer nut when tightended against the inner will take up a little slop in the axle threads and tighten just a little on the inner nut and bearing so you may need to go thru this procudure a couple times untill your happy with the results.

One of the bearings is tapered and the other one has radiused rollers

As stated above seat the brngs then back off a short quarter turn. Ive done hundreds of them this way and no problems. Another tip if you dont have equipment to handle duals get a peice of tin, (a porcelin sign works great) lay it down with some gear grease on it roll the duals on it then looking thru the hub slide everything on without banging the seal.

also a great weapon for moving the duallys is a shovel!

I got the tires off the hubs and I use a casters wit 2x4`s to get the hubs lined up.I am still waiting for my brakes shoe to come in so when they do I`ll put em on adjust the bearings and get a sticker on this thing.Thanks, George

Short quarter turn is pretty snug yet.

I adjusted the wheel bearings as was suggested with the wheels off the hubs. When I put the wheels on I checked the play by putting a tire iron under the wheel and lifting it up and down. I found play so out came the dial indicator. I measured .010 play between the hub and the tube measured in the horizontal axis.I set the play at .003 with the wheels on the hubs.I`ve worked as a tool and die maker for 30+ years so forgive me if I`m over doing this.Is this the end result that I want or do I need .01 play or should the adjustment been done with the wheels on in the first place.Thanks,George