No, I did not add the turbos to my 6V53. I have had the truck about 4 months, and the engine and trans were put in it in the mid 60's. The turbos were added sometime around then or a little later.

This site will help with figuring gears and speed http://www.drivetraindirect.com/t_gear_calculator.htm
You will want the a 53 series to be about 1800 or 1900 rpm at your preferred cruising speed, say 65 mph.

I just rejoined the Yahoo DetroitDiesel group. It had been so long sense I last visited that they kicked me off. Still trying to figure out how to use it, I got the "group by topic" button, but I still don't like it. I want to see what all the available threads are and then choose one and be able to read it from start to finish. Once I figure things out I'll post about my trucks with 53 series.

Grigg