Just did it last weekend on my '97 with AC. The PS pump has to be removed. No need to drain the PS system though, the hoses are long enough it can be just moved aside and the thermostat removed. The tricky part is figuring out which bolts hold the PS pump. The 2 in the bracket along side the oil pan have to come out as well as the one in the adjustment bracket on the bottom, then one more with a 13mm head at the top of the PS pump, to the rear of the the 16mm pivot bolt. Remove the clip that holds the metal PS line and the pump will drop plenty far enough to remove the 2 thermostat housing bolts.
Pulling the clip and disconnecting the lower rad hose only drains half the coolant, be ready to wear the other half as you pull the thermostat out...