timing a 96 chevy pickup 350 vortech

I put new intake gaskets on my 96 chevy pickup W/350 and was told by our GM dealer that to set the timing, I needed to put the distributor back within 3-5 degrees of where I removed it so the computer would adjust the timing right or the check engine light would come on. The older models had a wire to disconnect to override the computer. Does anyone have any input on this? It's hard to believe that stabbing the distributor by guess and by golly is the way to do this.

Experienced this and you have to turn the distributer little by little and you have to use a computer that tells you how many degrees you are off. You turn the distributer and then rev ythe engine over 2000 rmps and the comp will tell you how many degrees you are off