If you buy a $400 diesel timing light.
If you are really clever, it might be possible by delivery valve spill timing.
If you line up all the marks, 95% chance it will be close enough to run, then you can go by trial and error.
the dial gauge is worth it for the repeatability.
with the vac pump, and injector pipes removed, is easiest.
I'm pretty sure the dial gauge for anything with a VE injection pump can be made to work.