The spring goes in the hollow button, then the buttons go in the holes on the shift lever.

Do you have the special extremely thick hardened washers that compress the rubber grommets when the shoulder bolts are tightened?

 

I do not have any thick washers no, only the rubber grommets.

ok I put the spring in the hollow button, when I put them in the hole, it pops right out, because its too small. im starting to think there is supposed to be some rubber pieces

 

Here's what I bought for my 3-speed shifter. It was all loosey goosey like yours and this made it like new again.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/shifter-handle-rebuild-3-and-4-spd-6-hardware-only-1965-1968/p/F1085/

 

Here's what I bought for my 3-speed shifter. It was all loosey goosey like yours and this made it like new again.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/shifter-handle-rebuild-3-and-4-spd-6-hardware-only-1965-1968/p/F1085/

this is exactly what i bought. the rubber bushings are correct, but the trunions are too small for the shifter holes, they just pop right back out

 

Very possible then that the holes are rounded out and too large to accept the trunnions.

 

im thinking about gluing them in. would that be the right thing to do?

 

Perhaps post some pics before you get crazy with the craft glue....

 

I do not have any thick washers no, only the rubber grommets.
Without them, or even with ordinary hardware store washers, the shift lever will be "goosey-loosey" and will shift lousy.

OK, I put the spring in the hollow button, when I put them in the hole, it pops right out, because it's too small. I'm starting to think there is supposed to be some rubber pieces
Of course it pops right out. Put the springs in the buttons, hold the buttons in place with your fingers, and install the lever in the shifter immediately. There is absolutely no rubber in this version.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/65-73-man-shifter-handle-to-shifter-2-hardware-only-1965-1973/p/F897/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkuv775KmgwMVA_fICh3vAQYuEAQYASABEgIF4vD_BwE

 

The rebuild kit I bought was supposedly for 3 and 4 speed, it has the bushings, which fit fine, and it has a set of trunions with springs, I do not understand how to install these, the videos I've seen of the shifter being rebuilt were using trunions with the rubber caps, not springs. any help greatly appreciated.

Actually, the solid trunnions with rubber cups were specified for the 3-speed, while the hollow trunnions with springs were specified for the 4-speed. No difference in function, but the 4-speed version was tighter, due to the steel springs, and provided crisper shifting for performance driving. I have always used the 4-speed version, regardless of transmission.