Hey VeeDubGuy; I know you asked for NYC or NJ based, so Ill throw a couple at you...
Foreign Car Works in Bound Brook NJ is a big sponsor of the Central Jersey VW society, and operates an almost exclusively to an aircooled clientel.
247 W Union, Bound Brook, NJ 08805 • 732-805-0907
GT Imports is in Massapequa (about 30 min East of NYC) While its not NYC, Tony is VERY well versed in ACVWs and if nothing more than a good place to get the bus up and running so that you can have a good, safe base to work from and learn off of then great. He has worked on all (6) of my VWs since I was 18 (soon to be 24) he is a bit more expensive than the average mechanic (although not astronomically so) but his experiance and knowing that your bus isnt leaving only to come back 100 miles later is well worth it.
http://gtprecision.com/5167991100
Gene's Volksworld
Gene is a one man show, and ONLY works on VWs (90% of which are of the aircooled vintage Id guesstimate) He's in Freeport, (also about 25 min East of NYC) He is fairly priced, and knows his way in out and around anything the VWs Sometimes
74 Hampton Place
Freeport, NY 11520
516-868-6210
For NY and NJ links and resources Id check out the followingL
http://www.dasvolks.com/links.htmhttp://www.cjvws.com/links.htmlanother great resource to start with (especially with a project) is A.I.R.S.
http://www.type2.com/rescue/Good luck!