timing?

No not at all. Almost all SBM Strokers Enjoy this much Initial Timing. You can Lock out the Distributor and set the timing at 34*, it will for for sure start to drag the starter down like that. A Start Retard/Cranking Feature in your ignition box would be a good thing to have doing it locked out.

or you can crack the throttle a little bit also and it cost nothing unlike a crank retard box