2003 Buick Century. 3.1 engine.
Overheating.
Head gasket/intake manifold gasket problem.
Shop suggestions please!

Sounds like the common GM V6 intake manifold gasket defect.  Not in north central Phoenix, but well regarded.  Dave's Auto.  NW corner of 51st Ave and Peoria in Glendale.  That's 1 mile west of the Phoenix city limits.  Dave's is an AAA award repair shop in business for many years.

These guys have always done right by me.   Even found used parts for my daughter's car when they knew she could not afford new.  

Been taking my Lexus LS430 to Toyomotors on Bell Rd at 28th St. for several years. Got much better service there than I ever did at the Lexus dealership. Enterprise rental car right next door if you need one.

I'll 2nd Dave's.  Done great work for me and everyone I've referred.

http://www.yellowpages.com/phoenix-az/mip/t-c-auto-service-1333095

this guy works on all my vehicles: Tom A.

T & C Auto Service


21629 N 9th Ave,

Phoenix, AZ 85027

(623) 869-9091

almost within sight of the gate to deer valley airport.

He has been an active High Power competition shooter, and very good at it.

Poole

9 times out of 10 when you over heat a 3.1 bad enough to need head gaskets ,you will be better off walking away from the car or putting another engine in . If it were a 3.8 you might have a chance , but 3.1's are junk after being overheated as bad as you did . And if you chase it and do the repair , in less than 5 or 6 thousand  miles it will bite you in the ass. And if you choose to try the repair you will have to send both heads out to a good machine shop and if they are not cracked you will need to do a valve job and have them decked /resurfaced B4 reinstalling them . Between the cost of parts and labor I figure it will cost you $700.00 to $1000.00 to do it right . IMHO never put more than half what a car is worth in repairs in an old car .