I finally found the infamous EGR passages that are behind the TB gasket. Mine were totally clogged.  Here is a short pictorial on the cleaning process that I did over the weekend: http://community.webshots.com/album/48338095ulxYWhI'll probably be posting a how-to in the near future...
96 Contour SE
Duratec V6 24-valve 2.5L ATX
108,000 mi.
Replaced: crankshaft w/ DMD, EGR valve (clogged), EVR, DPFE, PCV valve, evap emissions hose & tube (cracked), window regulator (broken), LH & RH PCV tubes, UIM gasket (leak), ignition coil
| 
