3.1L gasket replacement

My 1996 Lumina is consuming a ton of coolant. Most of it is coming out as white smoke through the tailpipe but of course there is coolant inside the engine. I need to replace these gaskets but I am poor... I have no way of paying $1500 for a gasket job. Now I have a few questions.

1. To those with the 3.1L, have you ever had this same problem and was it the intake gaskets or head gasket that was the culprit

2. Where can I find a guide with pictures and step by step reference for this particular engine. Anyone have a Haynes manual that they can confirm has this for this engine?

Thank you in advance.

Try the info at autozone.com repairguides, a leak down test may show if it is a bad hd gasket, or a combustion gas test in the cooling system can also show a head gasket issue, more common are the intakes.

How exactly do I ensure that each piston is at top dead center in order to perform the cylinder leak down test? I did look at the autozone guide but it lacks detailed pictures other than showing me the engine with the manifold(s) removed. Does the haynes have more? I'll just tear things apart if I have to, but it would be nice to have some visual reference. I might end up replacing all of the gaskets (head, intake, vc) but I am still curious to know how I can reduce the cost by ruling out the head gasket if it passes the leak down test.

Take of the valve covers you must do this anyway with either lim or hd gakets, you can see when the valves are closed.

I know a leak down test is more precise, but can't I just do a simple compression test before even disassembling the engine to check the head gaskets?

Yes , but the limited time the pressure is in the cyl. makes it more iffy to get a good diagnosis.

2. Where can I find a guide with pictures and step by step reference for this particular engine. Anyone have a Haynes manual that they can confirm has this for this engine?

Get yourself a factory service manual, forget about the others.

Check this out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1996-Monte-Carlo-Regal-Grand-Prix-Lumina-Service-Manual_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5885374d23QQitem Z380192116003QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

also, not sure if this gives any further indication as to it being LIM vs head gasket, but the low coolant light has been on for a while despite several flushes before the coolant loss was even noticed.