Ok, well everything is done*. There are 3 unions on now and the pump sounds totally different. It doesn't have a screeching sound to it and there are no air bubbles coming into the pump strainer basket anymore. So, I hooked up the vacuum and it still wouldn't fully prime. I tried opening the 2nd skimmer a little and when I did this the pump fully primed, but the suction was too weak on the vacuum. I covered the hole almost completely up and the pump still was primed and the suction was good! I am just losing a lot of water vacuuming to waste so I have to stop every so often and let the water level go back up, but it's working. Thanks for all the help!!!
*There's one small detail to note here. I called the pool guy weeks ago and wanted to change out the sand, check for leaks, and put on unions. He never called to confirm so I assumed he wasn't going to come. Well, I got home Friday and everything was done. I guess he got the message. If I would have known he was coming I wouldn't have asked for all the help. I'm sorry for wasting anyone's time.
*There's one small detail to note here. I called the pool guy weeks ago and wanted to change out the sand, check for leaks, and put on unions. He never called to confirm so I assumed he wasn't going to come. Well, I got home Friday and everything was done. I guess he got the message. If I would have known he was coming I wouldn't have asked for all the help. I'm sorry for wasting anyone's time.
If the assembly replacement gives you any trouble, let me know.