I have no idea what the problem is with this car. I recently ran down the battery trying to start it a couple days ago (yellow top optima) and no matter what I do now, I can't get enough juice to start the car. I tried jumping it and that didn't even help at all with giving it more juice. I then switched the battery to a good one and that didn't do a damn thing either. I pulled the starter the last time this happened and had it tested at the parts store and they said it was fine. The battery cables heat up real hot also. I am just so confused with this problem and don't know what to do anymore....I have always had problems with the car like this since i've owned it

If the battery cables are getting hot, then she is pulling some current.
That means everything that switches on the starter (ignion sw, neutral safety, wiring...) is good.

That leaves 2 things:

A: The starter is bad
B: something is wrong with the motor that is making it hard to crank.

As for B, that could also be 2 things:

A: Something is really wrong with the motor.
B: too much initial timing.

For now, we're gonna turn a blind eye to "something is really wrong with the motor."

First: scribe a line on the distributor body and the manifold where thet touch. Loosen the distributor and rotate it so the hose on the vac advance can is about an inch closer to the firewall.

Try to start it.

If that didn't help, replace the starter. (put the distributor back to the line.)

I recently ran down the battery trying to start it a couple days ago (yellow top optima) and no matter what I do now, I can't get enough juice to start the car.

darko,
What exactly is it doing when you try to start it ?? Is the engine actually turning over but not starting ? Or is it not turning over or turning over very slowly ?? If the engine is turning ok but just not starting, you probably have a fuel or ignition problem. If it is turning over very slowly, or not at all, you need to read Jims response.

Is there a good ground connection between the battery and the engine block ? Where does the negative battery cable go to ?

darko,
What exactly is it doing when you try to start it ?? Is the engine actually turning over but not starting ? Or is it not turning over or turning over very slowly ?? If the engine is turning ok but just not starting, you probably have a fuel or ignition problem. If it is turning over very slowly, or not at all, you need to read Jims response.

Is there a good ground connection between the battery and the engine block ? Where does the negative battery cable go to ?

The timing is set at 16 inital and 36 total. I never really had that big of a problem before with starting it. It is turning over very, very slowly right now.

when i got the car the negative battery terminal went to the alternator bracket, then I went out and bought a new cable and grounded it to the block.

so you all think that its the starter thats the main culprit?

so you all think that its the starter thats the main culprit?

Unless there is something seriously wrong with the engine that is making it hard to turn over. Once it does start does it run ok ???

Hot connections are signs of bad connections. Resistance makes heat when you flow current through it. Measure the voltage at the starter when you crank it. It should be within a volt of the battery voltage. If it is then the connections are fine.

Internal motor problems can cause the symptoms you describe. Spun bearings, and fluid in the cylinders are a couple of many examples. You might try pulling the spark plugs out and crank it. It should spin over like a singer sewing machine. Might not be a bad idea to get a cranking current reading. You'll need a special clamp-on DC ammeter. I don't know if your local Autozone will loan you one, or perhaps you have a friend with access to one.

How long has it been doing this?
When did you last check the timing?

I personally would pull the timing back and try it... before shelling out $$$ on a starter.