The last time I owned a car with leaf springs the dampers connected to the clamps that connected the axle to the springs, not bodged to the drum back plate.
The Rutherford kit, which was available long before the factory started fitting telescopics at the rear uses just that. You get a modified lower plate for the axle 'U' bolts. Never heard of any trouble with that and some pretty hairy competition Mogs had them.
