I suppose you can get by with the decent results you got
AND keeping ethanol blended fuels out of the tank. With ethanol it is always drawing in moisture since it is a hygroscopic chemical. If you don't take this precaution it will keep rusting the tank.
This POR15 tank sealer is all you'd need (one pint can) since you've already done the de-scaling, and it can do more than one tank since you add it, roll it around to coat all the sides then pour the rest back into the can --
https://por15.com/collections/fuel-tank-restoration/products/fuel-tank-sealer?variant=39607016947879
I think it is the only way to deal with old stuff with rusty fuel tanks.
Not unless he can get a new tank for 15 dollars or something, and that's really not going to happen with such an old engine.