To tell if the head is cracked, you have to remove it from the car, so you will replace the head gasket, anyway. Take the head to a machine shop and have it magnafluxed to see if it's cracked.
The head will need to be inspected at a machine shop. They can tell you if it is warped or cracked.
You cannot determine this until you remove the heads. Either way the heads must be removed and the gasket replaced. After removing the head you need to have it inspected by a machine shop.
If you suspect the head and/or the block, have them "magnafuxed" by a machine shop. On the other hand, as you're pulling it apart, check the head gasket and if it's shot, there is usually only the one problem.
The only way to tell for sure is to remove the head and look. You are going to have to remove the head in either case. Remove the head and take it to a machine shop and have it inspected for cracks and to see if it is warped.
how can you tell if the head is cracked from the exhaust side
The white smoke out of the exhaust will indicate a head or a head gasket issue. the only way to tell is to pull the head and inspect for signs of a bad gasket and have the head cleaned and checked for cracks or warping.
Have a compression test run to see if you have a problem with the head or gasket. Once you find out you do, then you must remove the heads in order to determine what the problem is. Have the heads inspected at a machine shop to determine if they are warped or cracked. Once the heads are removed the gasket must be replaced so it really makes no difference.
A compression test would be the easiest way to determine. If you have little or no compression in two or more adjacent cylinders, you either have a cracked cylinder head or a blown head gasket.
You'll need to take it to a machine shop and have it "magna-fluxed".
either a cracked head or a blown head gasket.
The only way to know for sure, is to remove the head and have it magnafluxed. If it has either of the above in the question, the head would have to be removed anyway.
If it hurts