Originally Posted by GaryF

I dont think there is enough room to slide the trigger points out with the distributor in place, also the trigger points are mounted on a fork which needs to be located properly when they are put back in. Doing this in car would be difficult. It's only one bolt to remove the distributor and setting the timing again is a few minutes of effort. If you set the crank to TDC before starting and mark the position of the distributor against the block then you'll have the timing close enough to start it and set the timing accuractely.