I have seen many of the "later" distributor advance pins with nylon/plastic bushings on them where 60's-early 70's vintage pins are not bushed.... This may tend to have a lot to do with it. Usually the damned things stick!
I can agree with the advance pins etc wearing.Re relay: yes, that is what I sorta thought you were doing. I can fix that messed up ignition switch thing!!! See my post in "for sale"...
I still don't recall a 45 degree either, but I will look. Yes, I could be wrong about the number of cylinders...but they sure seem to be NOT blue in 4 bangers and 6 cylinder cars!
Have never seen a blue one in a 4-6 and have never seen a non-blue in a V8...doesn't mean that they didn't.....I forgot about the 8 wire (three connector) boxes too! there is some sort of interface to a smog type control valve, so some control units will have three connectors on them.....rule is to stay away from these boxes...... Have never looked up to see if you should short, put a resistor in the circuit, or leave it open....
Ciao!
Steve