3.5 Timing Chain

Hi all,
Little problem with my 1971 3.5, I decided to replace water pump, as I was doing the rest of the cooling system, snapped one of the bolts and had to remove timing cover, found that the chain was slack (only 41k on engine!).
My question is, is it best to replace the just the chain, as the sprockets are good, or replace the chain and sprockets?
When I replace the chain (and sprockets), can I just leave the engine where it is, slide the old sprockets off and slide them back on in the same position?
And finally what is best to replace with, can I use the later cam sprocket that's metal, or is it better to stick with a genuine chain and sprockets?
BTW car was running fine before, never had any tapping and pulled like a train, cam is in good nick.

Thanks in advance.

Replace both chain and sprockets...

Only use Genuine parts....

Leave all connected.....turn the engine by hand until the timing marks on the sprockets line up, unbolt the cam sprocket and slide them off together, then assemble them both off the car lining up the timing marks and install.

Photos are from my 1996 P38 4.0...but it is basically the same engine (with a revised Cam Sprocket!)

Thanks mate, all in all a fairly easy job then, how is it worn out at 43k??

what do you mean by slack? as they aint tight when new..

pics please of your suffix a..(got 2, so interested in seeing others..)

Slack as in hanging off the crank sprocket on its trailing side and about an inch of movement, never made a noise or slapped the case though, also pulled like a train, no power steering and a wheezy alternator and standard skiing tyres helps I suppose. will sort some pic's for you soon. Was it you that had the ls400 motor?

yes..boosted..and another suffix a running boost and nitros..

Bleeding eck! That's some mods, what gearbox have you got with the LS400?

lt85