mallory distributor question

Phone # (937) 233-0353 for George's Speed Shop

 

This thread has good info on how they work. I've used them for years but hated the short life of the points and condensers. I changed them to Pretronix inside and never had a problem again. I heard all the Chatter about electronix just dying and leaving you stranded so for 8 years I've carried my points plate in the Glove box of my Merc. Haven't had to put them back in to get home yet.
The Wizzard

 

Bringing up an old thread for a coupe of random questions. I have a Y block Rev pol I plan to convert to a double life.

When I took it apart to clean, I noticed if I really turn the cam lobe it will move in the plate it's pressed in to. Once it's together it can't move independently as it shouldn't. I don't think it matters if I moved it or it would have been indexed so it can't move from the factory correct?

Two, this distributor has a vacuum brake piston setup in it also, should I clean it up and get the piston moving again and hook it up or is it better to remove the piston and cap the vacuum plug entirely on it?