bin standing a while will turn very slow but wont start !!!

[camper2555]

i have had this animal for 3 years now as a project it has been started but now it wont turn fast enough to start even with a brand new battery and has burnt out 3 starters ...the last one even caught fire, if you take the plugs out it spins like a goodun surely it cant have too much compression ...is there such a thing?... any ideas what i can try next please would be grateful for any input.
p,s, its an auto
chas

[Mocki]

have you checked the earth connections to the engine and gearbox nose mount?
Are the connections to the battery pos good?

is it hydrollicing? Fluid in the bores?