This is John Backus’ Rusty Goat, a 1964 Dodge D-300 Sweptline truck.
After arriving home from the Goodguys show in Nashville, Tennessee, John was itching for something new to build, something different.
He’d always liked the old Dodge trucks because they were different, and you just don’t see a lot of them around. John’s had his share of Chevelle’s, and means no disrespect, and says “if you see one, you’ll see another half dozen at a show, whereas with the Dodge, you may see 1 or 2, or none at all.
John found the truck just about 3 miles south of, Nashville the weekend he got home, wishing he’d seen it when he was just down there — “but no, I had to find it after I got home”. John traveled 4 1/2 hours each way back to Nashville the following weekend and got to retrieve the truck, knowing the drive was well worth it.
John first set the truck up as a rat rod — it already had a 500 cubic inch Cadillac engine TH400 behind it.
“I always wanted a pro-touring truck, but never took the time to do it. The wife gave me the green light and here we are. I’m so glad that I finally took the time to build what I’ve always wanted.”
It took John 2 1/2 years to complete the current build, and there’s not anything that has not been touched on this truck.
The D300 Sweptline sits atop a custom frame that sports Ridetech Strongarm suspension and ShockWave Integrated Air Spring and Shock Absorbers on all four corners.
A 4-link in the rear holds a Moser engineering Ford 9″ rear-end with a Yukon nodular case, 390 Truetrac gears, and 31 spline axles.
Under the hood is a 6.0 Liter LS engine out of a Cadillac Escalade that has been worked over with Holley goodies including a Holley Sniper intake and fuel rails with 42lb. injectors.
This capable powerplant exhales through Hooker Headers 2 5/8″ Blackheart headers that dump into 3” collectors and 3” exhaust through Blackwidow mufflers that turn down and belch just before the rear end.
The truck has been fitted with a 22 gallon ATL fuel cell, and fuel is pumped through two micron Holley fuel filters before getting to the motor. The transmission is a T-56 Magnum 6 speed with a single disc clutch. Baer brakes on all 4 corners help stop the Rusty Goat.
The wheels are American Racing forged 18″ x 12″ on the rear, and 18″ x 10″ on the front — the wheels are wrapped in BFGoodrich Rival S tires.
The cab is a safe space with Corbeau race seats with Racequip 5-point harness and seatbeats. The truck is painted wicked white with airbrushed patina to make it look like it was just pulled out of a barn.
John says that he’s building the truck to run autocross and that its super fun to drive — it handles like a sports car thanks to the help of Ridetech, Turn One steering, Baer brakes, and BFGoodrich tires.
