Pontiac Repair: head gasket, head gasket, aluminum head

Question
Todd, My niece has a 1999 Grand-Am, with a v6 Motor. She is  alittle short on common sense, She has a miss in her car, she took her car to a service station and they told her that she had a blowen head gasket, She is showing white smoke out of the tail pipe, They are asking $500.00 to fix the problem, if she buys the new gasket set. I am an old Motor head myself and not agree with the station fixing the problem. My concern is will the head(s) need to be shaved to fix the problem? With Aluminum head(s) do they warp/expand like the older heads used to do when they got HOT. What is your Best advise to solve this problem fix the car or look to trade it off? I still DRIVE a 1978 Chevy Tk. as my daily driver. Old Moter Head

Answer
Hi Harry:

well It's going to have to be a wait and see approach. What I mean is once the head(S) are removed they have to #1 be check for warpage with a straight edge and #2 checked for cracks. They are prett resialant belive it or not But if the engine was overheated badly enough they may need to be replaced and it couls have cause internal engine damage as well. It may be just that it blew a gasket and nothing else but doubtfull if she kept driving it. $500.00 is cheap to fix a head gasket issue though.. Lastly if this car has a lot of miles on it and not is great shape it may be time to cut her losses! Good luck :)