Ok, so I have a somewhat simple question about distributors...

How do they maintain contact over time?
My assumptions were that one of the following is true:
1) The rotor is spring loaded and extends when wear occurs to maintain contact.
2) The diz cap pins are set in such a way that they have to bend(Slightly!) when the rotor strikes them
3) None of the above and once the contacts wear, the spark just arcs... like my car does.

Anyway, I have a new dizzy cap and rotor and plug wiress and want to replace them and got curious.

Also: My B230FT is leaking from where the distributor assembly meets the head and I can see what looks like a flat paper gasket (volvo says it doesn't exist) with part of it hanging loose. I think it could be the rear cam seal too, but it's not a plug...
I have a new big (5"?) O-ring and a 1990 car, so I think I have the non-Hall sensor.
Is there anything potentially dangerous about removing the assembly where the distributor attaches? Would it require removing the distributor and possibly misaligning it?

Thanks!
Good night!
-Will
--
1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond