I always thought like olds48 in that I figured as long as it was in by my launch rpm I was good and it would start easier. I now lock it out instead just because it is easier to set the timing. My car lives lives in a housing addition...The neighbors just L O V E the open headers .... with it locked I just put the motor at 38 deg before tdc and drop in distributer and make sure the cap is indexed correctly. I still put a light on it to check but I don't have to rev it up and make all kinds of racket to do it. Mine starts just fine with it at 38 deg. I have 1 battery in the trunk and a CSI mini starter( now they are CSR)