For the record I'll share what I learned after spending a few hours working on this:
Do not try to follow the Haynes manual procedure for removing the cooling fan if you have A/C. Not gonna happen. I did manage to bust up the electrical connector on the fan trying to force it past the AC line, but accomplished nothing else.
However I was able to replace the lo-speed fan resistor at the bottom of the fan shroud without removing the fan entirely. No need to drain the coolant either. Unplug the fan connectors, undo the two shroud mounting nuts, and disconnect the tubing that brings ATX fluid to the radiator (these run along underneath the fan so you need to be able to swing them out of the way). Then lift the fan up (it's hooked over the radiator at the top and some supports at the bottom) and drop it back down as far as it'll go toward the bottom. That should expose the resistor just enough to unscrew and replace. You may have to reach down from the top to remove and replace it.
My resistor was corroded through, it's mounted way at the bottom of the engine and completely exposed to road splash so no surprise there. The bad news is, the fan still won't come on so I need to replace the relay next.
