Mid 80's LOPI Wood Insert Top Slide Damper

I'm preparing to install a flexible chimney liner. At the top of the insert is a slide damper that operates over an 8" outlet which works very well. As many will know, connecting an adapter to this style for use with a flexible chimney liner is neither clear nor easily accomplished. The question for the wood insert veterans, can I remove the factory slide damper in an effort to utilize an 8" adapter that will easily drop into the 8" outlet making the connection clean and easy? Obviously I would lose my top damper entirely only leaving me with my two front slide draft dampers for overall fire control. Please help.

why not just put a notch in the adapter. I did it and it works ok, no smoke or ash leakage.