95 Dakota should be a hydraulic controlled trans, and if this is the case your suggestion is probably a good one.
The electrical connector on the drivers side towards the rear of the trans main case will have three wires if it's a hydraulic controlled.
If this is done there will have to be some system for applying OD and lockup.
This can be shifted manually with a switch, by buying an aftermarket trans controller or building a hydraulic pressure switching system like I built for my Dart.
This would apply even if he went with an EFI system instead of a carb.
(I'm kinda thinking in Montreal the self learning EFI would be the ticket)