Axles weren't installed yet as those were being replaced as well due to torn grease boots and yes I knew the applicable torque settings. Both wheels were off the ground. The hub assembly was installed back into the knuckle/spindle, and the torx bolts were set to the recommended setting of 100 ft pounds. It was after that, that I put back the steering brackets, also 100 ft pounds, and the caliper mounting brackets, again, 100 ft pounds. As I went to install break pads, rotors and calipers, I tried to turn the hubs themselves, and they didn't budge. There was no axle in place, nor anything impeding their ability. So as I said, I'm wondering if the machine shop didn't get the bearings in the carrier correctly as all the seals were correct, the install was correct, and someone needs to slap the amc engineer for not dropping that lower ball joint to give easier access to the lower hub assembly bolt. Yes I'm doing this myself, and have done many similar things of this nature, including rebuilding engines, transmissions, cylinder heads, and even wheel bearings on things like chevelles, camaros, trucks, vans, you name it. Never had this issue in over 20 years of working on cars. As for the hubs turning before install, yes, it was a tight turn though, very snug.
The reason I suspect the bearings are seated incorrectly, is that when I picked up the reassembled hubs from said machine shop, they hadn't even greased the knuckle side bearings, nor had they redone the bolt holes as I had requested. As I said, someone had their hands in this car before I got it, and the seals in at the time were basically disintegrated.