In my 95 ram 1500 5.2 4x4 i seem to have a loss of power when im driving. it shakes really hard and fast back and forth when taking off from a stop and when going up a hill. If i turn the O/D off it doesnt do it nearly as bad because it keeps the truck in a lower gear. ive never experienced this before and i could use any advice i can get

 

Misfire. Check the plenum first. (there is a thread with way too much information stickied at the top of this forum for that.)

When's the last time the truck had a tuneup?

 

i just replaced the plugs and wires but ive had the truck 2 years so im gonna say its been well over 2 years judging by the way the old spark plugs and wires looked

 

Cap and rotor?

 

They have not been replaced yet but that's actually the next thing on my list. I wish I could have done it all at once and I know I should have just couldnt afford it all at once

 

See what they look like. Take it from there.

I understand the money thing all to well.

 

When I had that issue, it was the cam position sensor (flat sensor in the bottom of the distributor).

However I do second replacing cap and rotor along with the wires and plugs.

What do you have the plugs gapped at?

 

what's plenum?

What cap and rotor?

 

Plenum is that gasket that seals the intake plate to the intake. To check it you pull the throttle body and towards the back of the interior and look for oil pooling.

Cap and rotor on the distributor.

 

The main head gasket?

Is the cap and rotor separate from the distributor itself? Could you just get the distributor and those come with it?