David, to answer your question, you will need to use your original Contour front cover. The front cover on that Escape has the mounting location for the belt tensioner on the opposite side. The sensor locations are not the issue. (not all 3.0Ls have the same front cover. Some people just have 3.0L Taurus on the brain around here.)
I suggest you also take a look at this
thread for pickup screen, baffle, & oil pan info.
Just FYI, I'm surprised that more people don't use the Escape 3.0L as their donor engine. It even comes with the power steering bracket. Even better would be the 3.0L Mazda MPV which has the bracket, doesn't have the transmission bushing like the Taurus or Escape, and has a DMD installed.
