Whoever told you that is talking crap.
The BLOCK is the same, they may well use a different sensor as the auto has a FLEX plate instead of a flywheel, so will be positioned differently, spacing wise away from the sensor.
So just put in your crank and firt the sensor, the crank differs ONLY in lack of a SPIGOT BEARING in the auto crank as there is no shaft from a gearbox to go in there so is not fitted.
tabetha