I was thinking this may be the case too but at this point does that mean I need to take the cylinder head off again and put on a new gasket, increase the torque on the head bolts (probably a bad idea) or put some leak stop in it and hope for the best?

 

The smoke from burnt antifreeze has a very distinct sweet smell. If its smoking as much as you say it is, like a cloud, then you must see a drop in the coolant level. I've never heard or seen that much coolant get trapped in the exhaust tract due to a cracked head. If that were the case, your cat convertor would be the first casualty.

 

Last update:

I saw a post from Radi on another coolant issue where it was mentioned that GM placed those leak stop pellets in new cars back in the day and that the Bars Leak powder was the same thing. I went to Wally World and picked up the powder and followed the instructions.

No more friggin smoke out the tailpipe when I start it! It is alive!

I hope this will last a while as all I had initially was a small leak which sealed up when the engine heated up.

All I have to do now is replace the tranny filter as well as tranny fluid and transfer case fluid then I'll be good to go.

I appreciate all the help and hope to pay it forward in posts in the future.

 

If that stuff stopped the smoke you can pretty well bet on a minor head gasket issue.
I'd call this a stopgap solution. The pellets and powder work well for minor seepage around hose fittings and such (which is what GM originally used them for), but they are not a long-term fix for head gasket issues, thermal expansion and contraction usually allow the plug to blow out again. Sometimes you luck out and it never leaks again, but I wouldn't count on it for more than a temporary fix. Only other people have that kind of luck, lol. Not me.
When you pull the head again at some point, look very carefully for spots where the sealer has accumulated. That'll pinpoint your leak.

 

Save yourself some headache and only drain and refill the trans. That's a screen, not a filter. If the pan gasket isn't leaking, leave it alone.