However your big limitation will be height at either 2.44m or 3.00m depending on where on the main deck you're checking. The lower deck (which is all you'd have available on a passenger 747) has a much lower height limit (an LD-1 has a height limit of 1.62 m).
An engine's just not going to fit inside unless you're talking about something designed for oversize cargo like the Dreamlifter (747) or Beluga (A300) or Beluga XL (A330). Oversized cargo is also the main use case for the An-124/225.
https://www.cargolux.com/fleet-equipment/aircraft/747-400f-s...
This is in direct conflict with literally the paragraph you posted before it. You could definitely carry the RB-211 on a standard cargo version of the 747, as you yourself stated previously. It could only fit on the main deck, but the standard 747 cargo (aka not needing the guppy) definitely could do it.
- Front nose cone door
- Main deck cargo door
I believe neither would be used on a passenger airline configured 747 (could be wrong though!) and hence why the wing based fifth pod configuration was likely used.