rough idle all of a sudden

Ok well i was driving my 87 cherokee cheif, and then all of a sudden it began to idle really rough. It also lost torque. It sounds like it is either missing or an exhaust leak? I know i had an exhaust leak but it wasnt causing any problem and we were waiting to get it fixed. Could the exhaust leak of gotten worse and caused this or is there something else that would have caused this. Also I have the 4.0L manual transmission

Check:

spark plugs
ignition wires
distributor cap and rotor
ignition amp connector and wiring
vacuum leaks

Ok well i was driving my 87 cherokee cheif, and then all of a sudden it began to idle really rough. It also lost torque. It sounds like it is either missing or an exhaust leak? I know i had an exhaust leak but it wasnt causing any problem and we were waiting to get it fixed. Could the exhaust leak of gotten worse and caused this or is there something else that would have caused this. Also I have the 4.0L manual transmission

I doubt that an exhaust leak would cause this problem, unless it is right at the manifold.

well i replaced the exhaust manifold because i found out that the two rear ones that come off the block were basically broken off. so hopefully this will fix it. got it all in there and now it doesnt seem like it has fire so now i am going back to look at it again... its 10:23 p.m. and i am sick and i am not stoping tonight till i figure it out lol so ya i am going to check the distributor and all the spark pulg wires and everything like that so ya