The pilot doesn't have to touch anything,
there is no alignment issue when using the big bearing like the dakotas use. Hot dog down a hallway analogy here. Doesn't touch the walls at all.
So putting a steel shaft (input shaft end) into a bearing (with needle bearings); alignment isn't an issue. Since when?
The bushing/pilot isn't in play here at all unless the OP is asking about the smaller bearing style that aligns the pilot tip. I think they are talking about the type of pilot bearing that fit in the converter register and captures the smooth section just in front of the splines, not the pilot tip like the bushing does.
https://www.carid.com/1994-dodge-ram-transmission-parts/national-clutch-pilot-bearing-98317886.html The big bearing uses the converter register, NOT, the OEM area where the smaller bronze bushing is installed. It's why you can cut off the end of the input shaft when using the BIG bearing... If the oem crank opening is wide enough and deep enough that section is now INSIGNIFICANT to alignment and operation! hot dog in a hallway... Also why you can grind it out if you choose to do so using the dakota bearing.
I used these register bearings on 360 cars all the time.
The red area is where the OEM bronze captures, blue where the Big dakota bearing captures.
