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Well quick update I found a whole car same year/model had to drive 8 hours and dig it out of 4 feet of snow but the good old subie should be running today. I appreciate the replies and help!

Yes, drain it. If you're trying to be speedy-mc-grab-a-part at the back holler pull a part that doesn't drain the coolant first....you don't have "have" to drain it. Pull the intake manifold and the coolant rages out of the intake passages, all over the top of the engine, into the head ports/valve seating area and drips into the combustion chambers.

Yes. There is a main passage in the intake. Coolant from the heads goes through it to the thermostat. Drain about a gallon out of the radiator gets most of it. Run it up to normal operating temperature, shut it down, slowly and carefully loosen the 6 intake to head bolts. Work them out and in gradually if they are really stuck. If you really pay attention and practice, you can tell the difference between the springyness of a bolt vs the yield when it snaps off. Unless you put it toget her with anti seize before.