These aren't high compression engines. Verify what it should be with a service manual or ask on MGExp. Or ask Darryl.
Didn’t get oil flow at the top end while cranking. Only oil up top is what I squirted on when I started rolling it over. No pressure on gauge either.
Normal. Takes a minute for oil pressure to build up. Its a mechanical pump on (normally) #4 crank lobe. You won't see pressure until it's running and you won't see flow much before that either. It is OLD.
HVAC controls seem mostly missing. Blower and heater core under the hood…
HVAC controls? Keep dreaming. A switch for the fan is what you get in the cabin. If you are lucky a "defrost" knob. Heat should be from a vent in the footwell that opens to the engine compartment. Underhood there should be a stopcock to prevent flow into the heater core. That's it.
About as exciting as the Stovebolt in the Chevy: Seemed hopeful, and then not.
If you don't like this, move it along ASAP. This is 100% of how these thing run. what we think of as "bad" is normal. What you think is good is just her lulling you into a peaceful moment until she throws oil, metal and boiling fluid all over the road. These things are the high maintenance women of old cars.
I think I’ll try to get it oiling, and then see if it’ll run. Maybe bore scope it and see what I can see inside. Unless the oil pump failed it ought to be decent at 45,000 miles.
I'm at 45k. But that's 3 engines. The 1500's are shit, but these things are NOT high mileage cars. You may have better luck with yours (don't drive it like a sports car... that appears to kill 1500s).
I'd also recommend against electronic ignitions. I had nothing but problems until I went to points (it's actually in the service manual as a fix for timing (remove opus electronic and replace with points). Darryl swears by it so ask him what the best one for that engine would be. Remember that these old things don't rely on perfect electrical so don't freak out about the fuses in the engine bay. Once I beat the ignition problems all my electrical issues vanished.
If you like to tinker with things, these are great cars. PITA, but a lot of fun to tool around in with the Mrs in the passenger seat just looking at the sky (which is all you can do in these things so take a blanket for a grassy field if y'all like to have fun in the wild).
Also, once you get it running you MUST drive it at least once a week for at least 30min. If she sits more than that something will break. not sure how they are supposed to survive winter.