I have the drive shaft and axles removed, the nuts holding it together off, and I cannot separate the differential.  I don't know if it's the original gasket or what but I've tried everything I can think of without breaking it.  I need help, please!  

Look one more time to ensure that you have all he nuts off.  Then try jacking up the "chunk" just behind the input shaft.  Be careful as the "chunk" or carrier is heavy so you don't want to lose control of it and you don't want to bend or break the studs.  

Tried that and it didn't work.  I've tried trying to wedge and pry something between them, carefully.  Hammering on a piece of wood in select locations.  Still nothing.

Are there supposed to be washers?  Because I don't see any.  Just a beveled surface around where each nut made contact.  And I don't see any space between the stud and the cover, where the edge of the holes would be.  I don't know if it's supposed to look like that or if somehow the washers got smashed flat, all of them.  Is that possible?  

There are supposed to be copper washers under each nut.  Copper is soft so they could be mashed.  If you ever get this apart, use new copper washers when you reassemble it.  

Wplayer, many years ago I had the same problem. Try taking a torch and heat up each stud. I'll bet there is enough corrosion between each stud and the carrier making it next to impossible to remove. A little heat should do the trick.  

It's been garaged for years and I don't think there is any, or much corrosion.

It looks like the washers are smashed to the level of the differential cover.  I'll bet that is something holding it on.  Any ideas on how to get them off?

I have some pics but don't see a way to post them here.  

Some people have told me that their differentials didn't have washers on them at all.  I'm not sure if mine does or not.