47-55.1 283 question

[8man]

I think I know the answer, but I thought I'd ask to make sure.

When I got the 54 it had a "rebuilt" 283 with it. Well it was left outside with a plastic bag over the carb. As you might imagine, when we pulled the carb and looked inside the intake it had some rust. So we pulled the heads to see what I had.

With the heads off, the #1 piston toward the front on the drivers side was down with the valve having been open a little. IT had about an inch of water in it with some rust on the walls of the cylinder.

My friend said "just scotch bright it off" and it'll be fine.

My question, is he nuts? I know the venerable 283 was a workhorse of a little engine, but I can't imagine that'll leave me with a good motor for any period of time.