If your buddy is going off of the clicking sound meaning the timing is messed up then he is most likely wrong. It wouldn't hurt to pull the valve cover off and recheck it though before starting. Make certain the battery is fully charged and if it still gets the click sound just jump that starter and force it to turn over. After those things get back to us.

To check timing pull valve cover, drop LONG extension into cylinder 1 (closest to crank pulley)...turn crank pulley (counter clockwise) until cylinder one is at TDC and the little holes in each cam (by the cam gear end) are vertical. If cylinder one is at top of stroke and both of those little holes are vertical then you are set.