UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE! SOLUTION FOUND:
The problem was the combination of a cracked intake gasket AND a failed IAC valve! Replacing the gasket was a pig of a job! The collet for the EGR pipe was locked on the lower manifold! I ended up taking the hack saw to it to finally get it off. It took a ton of penetrating oil and my whole body weight to break it loose! After i retrieved the other half ot the EGR tube i had someone weld the tube back together for reinstallation! What a mess! Rebuilt and reinstalled the manifold and torqued it down to 13ft lbs as specified on the forums. After that and first start of the key it started right up, although the idle was slighlty higher than 1000RPM, but much better than close to 2000RPM as before. The idle was fluctuating slightly as well, i let the engine get to temp and shut it off. I unboxed the IAC and slapped it in and made the final difference! Phew! Im now idling at a steady 750RPM and much less stressed! Thanks to all who helped!!!