yes you can get to everything with the head liner panel removed or even with the front part let down you might just find that the plastic gear has fallen out as in my case and just reinstalling was needed. Sun visors off, plastic pins just pull straight out, and side plastic trim just pull straight off . The 97 was eaisy to work on just take time and study the gears the red piece is like a go between saftey gear but every thing must line back up to start and stop where it should and once messing with it you will figure it out. ,,,if you have good common sense be ready to cut power off if you think the red piece is getting in a bind I was luck already had spare piece from junk yard it will break!!! if caught ina bind between gears
the motor has three screws in it and once it is removed you can slide sun roof by hand.....push the back part up and out sliding the whole unit to the back.
No it is not in the haynes manual or GM service manual and this is not the full instructions either but it is do able