Shifter wont go into 1st and sometimes wont go

It sounds like the bushings on the steering column that hold the shifter in place are worn out ot the brackets holding the bushings in place have come loose allowing for excessive movement with the shifter shaft. These things also had a problem with a bracket coming loose at the lower part of the steering column. You can look up under the dash (laying on your back) and find the shifter cable where it attaches to the shifter shaft. There are tree bolts that hod this bracket on. If they come loose you will have this same problem To fix it you need a T-30 torx socket and a ratchet to tighten these three bolts.