a friend has a 96 mustang 4.6 with the 5 speed and he blew the engine. he found a great deal on a 2002 crown Vic (i believe its the police interceptor) engine. Please someone with knowledge tell me if it is interchangeable.

I have seen a lot of yeses and no's on various forums, having to do with the crankshaft bolt holes and whether or not the manual trans will work because the engine was on an automatic, and about the sensors and intake difference but that stuff can be swapped from the old motor, right?

no wont work. cranks are diff. autos dont have the hole for the pilot bearing. heads are different, intakes are different.