FyberOptic wrote:

First of all, thanks for the responses so far, guys. The info is
certainly helpful. I'm not completely opposed to modifying the
scanner, but it's good to hear that I might not have to. I'm much
more optimistic now on attempting the project either way.

While it may be technically interesting, I am amazed that one would
consider embarking on such a project...

At least here, scanners have become mostly useless because so many
services have switched to digital, and uncountable unused "computer
scanners" (= those that already have a frequency synthesizer) are
floating around. A search on a secondhand marketplace site returns
tens of "for sale" scanners sold for maybe $10. Just get one, and
key in the frequency you are interested in.

(remember that solutions with a VFO will mean you lose the scanning
capability so you can monitor only a single frequency at a time, and
unless you add some digital readout you won't even know to what frequency
you are listening)