If its a 97 it will be NPI unless someone not too bright swapped it to a 99/00 PI intake which means it should have the metal crossover. Still can warp and leak under the tstat, even the metal crossover ones but if its not leaking, don't worry about it.
Just basic stuff. Plugs, wires, fluids, filters. The rear main seal is a pain in the nuts like they all are. Doing the trans pull is not bad at all if you have a lift. The stupid nuts on the passenger header collector are terrible if they're corroded. Everything else is just a matter of unbolting and removing and its all easy to get to. Trans is heavy, like 120+lbs heavy so make sure there are two of you and a trans jack would be helpful.
Also make sure to replace or at least resurface the flywheel that is in there, don't just bolt a new clutch to an old flywheel. They are cheap from Ford, $140 for a new iron one and you can get a Luk or Valeo clutch for $120 which is identical to OEM. OEM pilot and throwout too and when I say OEM, I mean OEM from a dealer, not FRPP. They are different oddly enough. Might want to have a new clutch fork and pivot ball handy too while the trans is out.
Also, do the spark plugs. Modulars like to run 1 range cooler than OEM. For Autolites, OEM=Autolite 104 so I recommend (and run) 103s. Coppers are fine, no need for platinums unless you don't want to do it every 30k which I'm guessing not since its a flip. Wires should be OEM Ford Motorcrafts which you can get on Rockauto for $50. Make damn sure they are torqued properly too. Yes, laugh at me for suggesting to torque spark plugs but the aluminum heads in these motors are notorious for blowing out the threads or spitting plugs. Not so much the earlier 96-98 motors as the 99-03 4 thread versions but it can still happen. Just a tiny dab of antiseize on the plug and then torque to 15 ft lbs. A magnetic spark plug socket and a 10" wobble extension makes doing the plugs on this thing a half hour job.
Can't think of many other "problem" areas... these motors are very stout and well maintained they'll last 150k+ easy, most Taxis in NYC ran them in the Vics and they routinely went over 300k no problem. Generally the stupid crap like sensors and other stuff including rust issues get these cars before a motor failure at least in my experience.