hrockwell,
If it's and engine shudder..a miss, on acceleration, it is probably ignition related. The obvious conclusion would be a plug or plug wire. If the truck idles with a miss you bring in the valvetrain equation. The drill would be to do the simple igintion stuff first. LOOK at the plugs. Check the wire and cap. Someone on this site mentioned parking in a dark garage so you could see a leaking wire better...arc zappo!
The complete diagnosis would of course be a compression check, valve train inspection and timing check..with a light.
You first want to see if you can tell what system it is in, ignition or mechanical. Then see if you can pinpoint a specific cylinder.
The dirty fuel filter won't really be a factor, that's usually a run or no run situation. If you go to the tailpipe and listen while the truck is at an idle you can usually hear a miss.
When you accelerate, the ignition has to overcome increased cylinder pressures, this is why you will pick up a miss then. SOOOO, the first thing on the list is to see if the truck misses all the time, or just when you goose it.
Stuart
