In the back of the crank there is a 'pocket' for the snout of the torque converter. You can get a bushing or a bearing made for a late model manual trans that presses into that pocket. ('96 dakota?)

You might not have to go with the late model part. An old style manual trans setup has the crank drilled deeper than the pocket with a smaller hole to take a bronze bushing (pilot bushing). If it is drilled but not to size you might be able to find a special bushing for that, but it is easier to just put in the late model pilot. If the hole is not there at all you can still use the late pilot but you have to cut off the tip of the trans input shaft.

Good luck