Car won't start and white smoke...

[timaxx]

Hi, this is my first post...
I am going to be helping a young lady this weekend with her 1983 Buick Park Avenue. I am doing this as a favor to her since she doesn't have the money to pay a mechanic. I have done various repairs on my own vehicles so I am somewhat competent. Anyway, she tells me that her can won't start and she has observed white smoke coming from underneath the hood. She has replaced the battery already.
My first guess is a bad alternator for the starting problem. Is this a very difficult repair? Could anyone guide me to some directions for replacing the alternator?
As far as the white smoke, could it be a bad head gasket? Once again, is this a very difficult repair?

thanks.

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, won't start means cranks but won't fire? Does it have spark and fuel in the carb, basic diagnostics are in order here, no?