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Despite all the following cautions against sandblasting old tractors, let me say as a retired sandblasting contractor that it can be done. However, I would not recommend that an amateur attempt it. It requires large equipment that can propel the grit at high speed without inducing a localized high pressure area in the area to be cleaned. That means the nozzle can't be close to the tractor. I used 750 cfm compressors, 1.5" hose, and .75" nozzels. My compressors were powered with 6-71 Detroits and used 8-10 gph of fuel. They were rated for 238 hp. Effective range on a tractor was around 8 ft. I once sandblasted the bottom of a commercial swimming pool that had 2 feet of water in it. Most, but not all sheetmetal, can be blasted. All electrical, glass, tin, and radiator have to be removed. Any seal or bearing has to be protected with cured silicone and rubber tape. Engine openings need to be plugged with expansion plugs and then taped. Anything that leaks has to be fixed first. Direct 90* sprays at thick gaskets should be avoided. All tractors have to be cleaned with steam or hot high pressure water first. Some tractors require more attention than what's listed above.
The oddest piece of machinery I ever did was a HD Panhead motor driven to a job site. The owner removed the hot motor from the motorcycle, did all the prep work, let me have at it, painted the barrels and pans, and reinstalled the motor in the cycle. He rode off after about three hours.
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