So I went and bought a radiator, thermostat, and gasket to mount it. I went to a friend's house cuz he has tools I can use. When I got there I had a thought, why replace all this stuff if I can just repair the crack I saw? So I got some JB weld and drove to a bar aiming to identify the crack, seal it shut and let it sit fora few hours. But I'm looking for the crack in the radiator but I don't see it, now I see smoke coming from under the cylinder head. So now I'm wondering what the issue is.
Here are some other clues.

1. When I turn the heater on only cold air blows out, even if I'm driving for 10 minutes.
2. The thermostat doesn't work anymore. It did when I started having this problem.
3. There is a burning smell, so it's not just steam.
4. No smoke from the radiator. Would a radiator "smoke," anyway? or just steam? Possibly, theoretically (just an idea), I did not run the car long enough to cause the radiator to smoke, but only long enough for the cylinder head. Or, possibly, since the cap on the radiator is loose (old guy suggested this), the "smoke" that WAS coming from the radiator is now coming from somewhere else? I dunno.
5. Smoke from under the cylinder head. I think this is a new thing. Maybe I caused additional damage by driving it. Dunno.

Old guy thinks I need to replace radiator, new guy thinks its the cylinder head, dad thinks I should replace the thermostat, and I'm not sure anymore. I think I need to drive it again, for a bit more distance than just now, and double check where the smoke is.

 

Find the leak......you can rent a pressure tester for the cooling system.

About where in the engine bay is the smoke coming from?

 

From my perspective looking at the engine frmo the front of the car, it is coming from UNDER the cylinder head, right side.

I am probably just going to take it to a mechanic. I have had to drive it short distances to pick up tools and parts and go to work and haven't made enough time to fix it myself as i originally planned, and now I can't clearly identify the issue. I shouldn't keep driving it, obviously.