Put in 8 3/4 and now I have a howl...

I have no clue since I just got it and it came from a car that sat for many years. Should I just run it as is?

What "I" would do is drop the drive shaft out and check the pinion nut torque. They are notorious for backing off. If you find it loose, if it's not destroyed the seal (or anything else) yet, you can retighten it and stake the pinion shaft end to the nut to keep it from backing off again.