Well, just reporting back here. In the midst of my engine swap I figured it was never going to get any easier to see what was up with the axle. So after power washing the whole frame to get rid of 37 years of old grease, dirt, and grass clippings I pulled the pivot pin out. I seemed like there was just a slight bit of play between the axle bushing and the old pin that wasn't there with the new pin. So I just put it back together with the new pin.
It seems to be OK now. No more play!
Could it be that IH used a bushing in the axle that was harder than the pin? If so, somebody at IH was using their head back then, as the pivot pin seems to be the "sacrificial" part in the assembly, as well as the easiest part to replace!
So I'm good to go for another 37 years now!
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