Tried that one too. Forgot to put it in my list. I have some kind of a vacuum tool that I connected to my compressor. Didn't seem to get anything out.
bic lighter fire. wouldn't want to chance damaging the manifold with a propane torch. Yeah, I don't think the drano would disolve the swab anyway but I might test it on a q-tip anyway. If it works it would probably be ok to use as long a I flush a lot of water through it afterwards. Started to ping you about the wires but I think I accomplished about the same thing with the hook I bent on the end of the pipe cleaner.