4wd button

[clemson55]

I was going through a bunch of stuff I found in the glove box the other day found original warranty card, original emission control system book, and original owners manual. While flipping through the owners manual I saw that it pictures a 4wd control switch (option). After looking in my cruiser I saw that I dont have this optional switch. What exactly is this switch for, and why is it optional?

 

[rgentry]

The optional 4wd button would be for a cruiser that still used
the vacuum shift for switching in and out of 4wd and not the
L-pattern lever that you have on the floor. In the United
States, the vacuum 4wd in the FJ40/FJ55 went away in
1973 AFAIK. I have seen non-US FJ's from the 1980's
that still had the vacuum transfer switch.

 

[Landpimp]

I oddly show it as an option in late 70's US spec 40's, I have a feeling it never really showed up in the US.

But yes its a vac switch for 4x4 like an early cruiser or a fj62

 

[Mainer7]

i got a '86 bj71 h55f/split case that came as a vacuum setup with the button.