it is bowed. the ends can be rewelded parallel, but if the carrier centerline is like a 1/2" rearward of the axle centerline-it is junk! think about it- you would be trying to stuff axles into a hole that is 1/2" to the rear
When you reweld the tube ends to the housing using the proper jig, the axle centerline will be inline with the carrier. My housing was bowed 1/4" but my chassis fabricator was able to slide the bar through the housing with out any binding.
Like he said, these housings were never straight from the factory. The welding process back then made these sheet metal housings warp due to extreme heat created from the primitive welders of the day.
