Is there an interchange issue on 8 3/4 rears on which size gears can be used? Let's say I have a gear range of 3.23 down to 2.76 gear set and want to change to something like 4.11 to 5.13 range. Will these work without any issues, even if the rear is a clutch, or a cone style? I believe they have to be for the same style (742 to 742, 480 to 489, and 741 to 741) but are their different carriers for gears ranges?

I do not believe so. To my knowledge the various gears are accommodated by varying the diameter of the pinion and thickness of the ring gear. And you are correct in that the gears are particular to the various case #'s I do believe the differentials themselves are not though

The SG fits all.Gears are case specific.There are IIRC 2 different splines for the U joint yoke though and there are 2 different sizes.They are case specific also.Rocky

Right, any sure grip can fit in any of the housings and at any gear ratios, just the gears are housing specific.... that is what I thought as well. This is what I wanted to confirm.

Yes, there is a small yoke (741 housing) and large yoke (742, 489) u joints...

Don't be equaling small and large yokes with specific casting numbers.

Sniper, is that because you can unbolt the yoke to the pinion and interchange it?

All three of the modern, made after 1962, third members came with the course spline pinion gears and both size U joints.
Some of the 1969 and later third members came with the fine spline pinion gears also
As already pointed out the carriers, 741,742 and the later 489 cases all have specific pinion gear diameter and specific bearing race sizes so the gears will not interchange between them

What Cab said, the factory put them all out in both sizes.

Ok Cab, but to the original question, any gear ratio will fit that same carrier (ex. 742 gears can only go in 742 case, but can use all the gear ratios), being the 1962 and later carrier. Is there a way to tell the modern carriers to the pre 1962?

As far as the yoke sizes, I didnt know that each could have either size.

Dana 60's have different carriers when the gear ratio gets to a certain point, but the 8 3/4's I have done (none before 62) never required a different carrier - the ring gears just got thicker as the pinion got smaller and the ratio got higher. HTH...

The early carriers, pre 1962 had a different casting numbers on them but the specs. on the pinion races are the same as the 741 and maybe the bigger 742 cases is what I have heard on here, maybe not as I have not had hands on experience with none of them
The 2.76 up too the 6.17 gear ratio will fit in the carrier there made for