If cloning them still means there playable in the new neighberhood im fine with that.
Make sure you search on "clone sims" and read the tutorials. Cloning is essentially rebuilding the sim in Bodyshop and CAS. You will also need SimPE.
Without a fair bit of work, rebuilding memories etc., your cloned sims will not remember their friends or extended family, they may not have the same aspiration or interests, the same job, business perks, badges, skills...
If you want to keep your hood and sims
exactly as they are, make a copy of your neighbourhood folder and drop it into your game when you have it reinstalled, as suggested by cwykes.