Upgrade system or install new internal HD first

Hello all and thanks in advance.
I am currently on a mid 2007 imac (imac7,1) with 10.5.8 instaled and running.  This computer so far has been nothing but great.  So much so I dont know some things which must be basics for many of you.
Recently however, I started seeing some lag and hang-ups while performing regular tasks with safari or even finder.  FYI-I typically dont rock more than 2 programs due to my limited ram as specd below, and if I am running Lightroom I make sure its the only one.  I've been concerned with how old my OS is and lack of updates being released so I just got a snow leopard disk witch I will soon install.  I also got a new external hd for backing up a photo library which is also on an existing external.  While waiting for snow leopard and my new external hd in the mail, ive discovered running the system profiler shows many many many "open error 5: "input/output...." lines.  A helpful search here leads me to believe my internal hd may soon suffer from immenent failure. 
I was planning on simply updating my system from leopard to snow leopard...I have several programs of which I no longer have the disk for - I wasnt previosly considering a clean install.
So my question is should I 
A - simply install snow leopard and make a bootable clone on the new exteranl drive I was hoping to use for photo storage untill I can replace the external?
B - Make a bootable clone  to my new external first then updatemy OS and do a new bootable clone? 
C - Make a bootable clone, replace my internal hd, then upgrade OS
D - Make a bootable clone and update that (is that even possible) and live with it
D - Something I am not thinking off?
My head is spining and I see so many ways I can mess up that which many of you must see as simple!  Ive been so fortunate that this stuff has never failed so all of the above options no matter what i choose will be a first.
FYI the new external is a my book studio with firewire 800.

Woops, I forgot to mention everything is being backed up on an external via time machine.  I wasnt clear enough.
Here is my hd breakdown:
1 - Existing ineterna hd which is failing I think
2 - Existing OWC portable used for time Machine backups. 
3 - Existing WD my book studio External drive used for photo library.  This is lightrooms library and I work directly off of it.  photos are backed up onto my existing internal hd.
4 - New WD my book studio with nothing on it yet (was going to use it for photos and free up internal hd, but now rethinking that)
Yah, my machine is pretty old.  I will take a look at the OWC 6gb upgrade to stay informed but like you pointed out, dont know how much its worth to invest in something so old.  Short of bying some externals, I have no hardware money put into this computer.  Thats why im not too worried about putting in a new internal if it comes down to that.  Im a little familiar with the upgrade path to ML and understand my particular computers issues with going that route.  I think for the short future, I'd simpy like to get onto snow leopard.
So still, im wondering, how should I proceed with this new external, upgrading my system, and replacing my internal hd? 
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