The 1997 Thunderbird uses a front-wheel-drive platform, while the 5.0L Windsor is designed for rear-wheel-drive applications. The engine bay's dimensions, mounting points, and overall layout are completely different. You'd need to fabricate custom mounts, modify the firewall, likely change the transmission, driveshaft, and suspension components, potentially even needing a custom exhaust system. It's a massive undertaking, far beyond a simple engine swap. Essentially, you'd be building a whole new car around that engine.
