You have the sleeve correct and that step should wedge down over the snap ring on the shock just as you said. Your adjuster nut is upside down,when you take it off to turn it around watch carefully as i have seen some adjuster nuts that uses a small spring and a nylon ball as a detent to hold the adjustment. Do you feel a click as one of those un drilled holes aligns with the sleeves slot ???
If not just drill and tap one of the holes for a set screw, or ya could do like we use to on the midgets, just throw a wrap of 200 mph tape around it
And the wire ties are to secure the upper spring cup to the spring so it does'nt fall apart when ya jack the car up by the frame.