The 8 1/4 thread
I could be wrong but this is what im thinking is going on and what your options would be at this point.
2.45 and numerically lower uses one carrier because the pinion gear is so big the ring has to be moved further out. 2.56 and up uses another carrier because the pinion is smaller.
Its not a case of "will that carrier fit" because you have had it in there so you know it will fit and its just making sure you have the correct ring/pinion for the carrier you have.
Its hard because you dont know what gear ratio was on the carrier you dont know what it will accept and all mesh together and lne up and be able to adjust lashes.
but we have advantage knowing that the gear size break and 2.45 and down and 2.56 and up.
you have 271s and they wont work so you must have the carrier that works with 2.45s and down so yes( assuming all the rest of the info here is correct) you could put a different ring/pinion on that carrier and make it work BUT the biggest gear you could use is 245s